Nov. 30, 2009
Final Stats
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Winston-Salem State University men's basketball team used a strong second-half effort to turn an 11-point lead into a 23-point advantage en route to an easy 85-59 victory over the Buffaloes of Milligan College at the C.E. Gaines Center on Monday evening as WSSU earned their second victory of the season.
After trailing 6-0 early the Rams responded with a stingy defense and aggressive transition offense as a Brian Fisher layup with 11:33 to play in the first half gave WSSU their first lead of the game at 16-15. The Fisher basket would also spark a 14-2 WSSU scoring run over the next 5:13 of play as the Rams pulled ahead for good at 27-17.
The Rams would take a comfortable 11-point advantage at the halftime intermission as WSSU held the 36-25 lead, a lead that they would never relinquish.
Despite a double-digit halftime lead, the Rams would be unsatisfied with a first half effort that saw the home team post a 35.3 percent shooting percentage (12 of 34) over the span of the game's first 20 minutes of play.
The Rams would waste no time responding in the second half as WSSU mounted a 23-12 scoring run over the first seven minutes of play as WSSU doubled their 11-point halftime lead and turned Milligan's deficit into a daunting 22 points.
WSSU would continue their offensive outburst as they increased their lead to as many as 28 points in the contest en route to the Rams' eventual 26-point victory.
“In the second half I think that we came out and shot a lot better than in the first half, that's for sure” WSSU head coach Bobby Collins said in postgame interviews. “However, I guarantee you that the first drill, every day this week, will see us work on defensive rebounding. There is no excuse for this team to outrebound us by four. That is the first stat I look at” Collins added.
The Rams, impressive in the victory, would benefit from a 48 percent three-point shooting display as Winston-Salem State connected on a blistering 12 of their 25 shots from three-point range including a seven-of-13 shooting display from long range in the second half.
Shelton Carter led the Rams in scoring for the fifth time in WSSU's six games this season as he tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the year. Joining Carter in double-figures, Brian Fisher added 17 points and seven rebounds and Andrew Jackson chipped in with 11 points, five rebounds and seven assists.
The Rams recorded a season-high 23 assists in the victory and forced 20 Milligan College turnovers as WSSU improves to 2-4 on the season with the win. Milligan falls to 1-7 on the season with the loss.
“This was a very feisty team. They played hard and I hope this is a good game for us going into the conference game [versus South Carolina State] this weekend” WSSU's Bobby Collins said.
The Rams will return to action on Dec. 5 at 4:00 p.m. as they play host to the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University at the C.E. Gaines Center.
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.
