March 15, 2008
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RALEIGH, NC - The 133rd meeting between the Winston-Salem State Rams (12-18) and the North Carolina Central Eagles (4-26) was one to remember as the Rams came away with a 60-56 loss in the bonus game of the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament. The Rams battled hard for the entire contest, but could not hold off a tough North Carolina Central team that would not go away.
The first half turned out to be a story of runs with the Rams and Eagles trading scoring streaks that would make the game one of the more exciting games of the season for both teams. The Rams came out strong in the game scoring on their first three possessions en route to jumping out to an early 6-2 lead.
The WSSU defense was especially impressive as the Rams held the Eagles to just two field goals in the first three minutes of play. The rival Eagles would not go away so easily, however, scoring back-to-back baskets and tying the game 6-6 with just over 16 minutes left to play.
WSSU freshman center Paul Davis would break the tie with a tip-in at the 15:34 mark left in the first half. The basket would spark a 14-0 run by the Rams that put the team back in control of the game, 18-6 with just over 12 minutes left to play in the first half. A lay-in by WSSU sophomore guard Darius Floyd would cap the run and keep the Rams ahead, 20-6 with just over 12 minutes left to play.
The Rams' rivals would not go away, however, chipping away at the WSSU lead with an eight-point run of their own that cut the WSSU lead down to just four points, 20-16 with 9:43 left in the half and forcing the first WSSU timeout of the game. A dunk and free throw by WSSU junior forward Jamal Durham would snap the NCCU run and keep the Rams on top 23-16 with 8:13 left to play in the half. The dunk would spark another run by the Rams, this time of the seven-point variety that put the team ahead, 27-16 with just over five minutes left in the half.
The final minutes of the half saw the Rams stumble, however, as the squad went scoreless for the final 1:30 allowing the Eagles to tie the game, 31-31 at the half. A Davis lay-in with just over five minutes left to play was the only WSSU field goal in the final five minutes of the half. The WSSU drought would spark a run by the Eagles that saw the WSSU lead evaporate with a breakaway steal and dunk at the buzzer that left the two teams tied, 31-31 at the half.
The Rams' struggles at the end of the first half would carry over into the second half as the Eagles would take their first lead of the game, 35-33 with 17:51 left to play.
Following NCCU's reclamation of the lead, WSSU senior forward Darrell Wonge would take the lead back with a three-pointer, 36-35, before the Rams would give the Eagles four unanswered points and found themselves trailing, 36-39 with 16:25 left to play.
WSSU freshman Isiah Tucker would power a Rams comeback, however, as he hit a pair of three-pointers to put the Rams back on top. His first three-pointer with just over 14 minutes left to play would spark a 5-0 run by the Rams that put the team ahead, 43-42 while another Tucker three-pointer would give the Rams a 46-45 lead with just over 12 minutes left to play.
The Eagles would respond, however, scoring six unanswered points and taking a 51-46 lead with 9:50 left to play. The Rams were not done with WSSU senior forward Darrell Wonge leading the WSSU charge. A Wonge three-pointer with 8:32 would pull the Rams to within one point, 50-51.
In contrast to the rest of the game that saw the two teams trading runs, the final minutes of the game saw the two teams trading baskets.
The game's waning moments were just as exciting as the rest of the contest as both teams would need some clutch free throw shooting to remain in the game. A pair of NCCU free throws with 2:48 left would leave the Rams trailing, 56-58. The two teams would go scoreless for the next minute and a half, setting up a nail-biting final minute of play that featured five WSSU fouls, three WSSU timeouts, and three missed NCCU free throws. Unfortunately for the Rams, it also included three missed shots that could have tied the game. In the end, North Carolina Central would hit a pair of free throws with two seconds left to play to seal the 60-56 win.
Leading the way for the Rams was Darrell Wonge's team-high 18 points as he capped his WSSU career by leading the team in scoring. Charles Futtrell led the Eagles with a game-high 28 points in the win.
The loss will end the Rams' season at 12-18 and the Eagles will end the season with a 4-26 overall record.
For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.
