March 6, 2008
Final Stats
ORANGEBURG, SC - Close games have been the norm for the Winston-Salem State Rams (12-17) and Thursday's game against the South Carolina State Bulldogs (12-19) was no different as the Rams took a hard-fought 73-71 loss in Orangeburg, SC, Thursday evening. The loss was a tough one for the Rams as the team led the way for most of the contest, but could not come away with the victory.
Statistically, the Rams had a great night, shooting 40.0% from the floor in a road game and only turning the ball over nine times for the entire game. However, the team struggled to get key baskets when they needed them the most. WSSU junior forward Jamal Durham led the way for the Rams with a double-double 25 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Sophomore guard Brian Fisher added 15 points for the Rams, including three crucial baskets in the final minutes of the game.
The Rams got things started early jumping out to an early, 11-7 lead over the Bulldogs on a tip-in by WSSU senior forward Darrell Wonge with 15:11 left to play in the first half. The WSSU lead would not last, however, South Carolina State reclaiming the lead, 13-12 on a jumper. The Bulldogs would use their home court edge to build a commanding eight-point lead, 22-14 with 8:41 left to play in the first half. The 9-2 South Carolina State run would not deter the Rams, however, as the team worked their way back into the ballgame. The Rams would run off eight unanswered points, capped off by a Fisher jumper with 7:13 left in the first half. The final minutes of the first half would see the Rams mount a furious surge, including going on a 9-0 run to close the half and take a 37-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Rams' momentum from the first half carried over into the second half as the team built their largest lead of the night, 42-31 on a free throw by WSSU senior forward Darrell Wonge with 18:40 left to play. The Bulldogs would not go away, however, as the home team whittled the Rams' lead down to the seventh tie of the night, 45-45 with 14:17 left to play. The two teams would continue to trade lead changes with neither team leading by no more than four points down the stretch of the game and set up some exciting action in the games final minutes.
It was in the game's final minutes, the action heated up as the two teams continued to battle. With just over eight minutes left to play, the Rams found themselves trailing Bulldogs 57-55 with 8:07 left to play. WSSU freshman center Paul Davis would tie the game on a pair of free throws, however at the 7:40 mark. WSSU freshman Isiah Tucker would hit crucial three-pointer with 6:26 left to play that gave the Rams a 60-59 lead. The lead would not last however, with South Carolina State running off four unanswered points and taking command of the game 63-62. A steal by WSSU senior guard Roy Peake and a lay-up by WSSU junior Jamal Durham would get the Rams back into the game, 63-62 with 5:08 left to play.
The final five minutes were tough for both teams as stifling defense at both ends of the court held the two teams scoreless for the next two minutes of play. Back-to-back turnovers and a pair of missed free throws were all the Rams could manage during the span. The Bulldogs, however, would get a basket inside to go ahead 65-62, but a Durham three-pointer would tie the game, 65-65 with just over two minutes left to play.
The final minute of the game turned out to be a test of wills with WSSU sophomore guard Brian Fisher and South Carolina State junior center Julius Carter trading big shots in the game. Heading into the final minute of play, the Rams trailed by just one point as a missed dunk by the Bulldogs led to a breakaway lay-up by WSSU sophomore guard Brian Fisher that pulled the Rams to within one point, 67-68 with just under a minute left. Fisher would repeat the act ten seconds later to give the Rams a 69-68 lead with 36.8 seconds left to play. South Carolina State junior center Julius Carter would hit a lay-up inside that put the Bulldogs back ahead, 70-69 with 00:27 left to play. Following a missed Carter free throw, Fisher would put the Rams back on top, 71-70, but another tip-in by Carter would erase the WSSU lead and leave the Rams trailing, 72-71 with seven seconds left to play. WSSU freshman guard Isiah Tucker would draw a crucial South Carolina State foul with just three seconds left to play to give the Rams a chance for the win. Tucker would miss both free throws, however, and ended the Rams' chances for the win. One more South Carolina State free throw would seal the 73-71 loss for the Rams.
With the loss, the Rams fall to 12-17 on the season and will face the North Carolina Central Eagles in a bonus game at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship Tournament at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC. That game is scheduled for March 15th at 4:30 p.m.
