Nov. 20, 2010

Box Score

SALISBURY, NC - The Winston-Salem State Rams (2-0) definitely brought their defense with them when the team took a 77-63 win over the Pfeiffer Falcons (2-2). The Rams used a stifling, high-pressure defense to help hold the Falcons to shooting just 30% from the field while a scorching hot shooting performance by the Rams keyed the win for the Rams.

As a team, the Rams shot 39.6% from the field and a whopping 40.7% (11-of-27) from the three-point line. For the second straight game, four WSSU players reached double-digit scoring in the game. WSSU redshirt-junior guard Dominic Alston led the way for the Rams with 20 points while redshirt-senior guard Shelton Carter added 18 points in the win. Junior guard Lamar Monger continued his strong play with 14 points while redshirt-sophomore forward Stephon Platt added 11 points.

"It's been a long time coming. I've been waiting to see Dominic shoot the ball the way he shot it, both he and Shelton," WSSU men's basketball head coach Bobby Collins added. "If you give those guys time, they can both shoot the ball."

Three was definitely the magic number for the Rams as the team connected on 10 first half three-pointers to push the team to the early lead. Things looked much different for the Rams in the early goings, however, as both the Rams and the Falcons went scoreless for the first three minutes of the half. The two teams combined for no field goals and only one point through the first three minutes of the half. The Rams would soon break out of their slump in a major way, mounting a furious 29-8 run to take a 30-8 lead with just over seven minutes left in the half. The Rams utilized a brutal long-range attack to key the effort, connecting on six three-pointers during the run. With the team's long range efforts putting points on the scoreboard, the Rams continued to dominate the Falcons, going up by as many as 25 points at the 6:33 mark. With a solid spot in control of the game, the Rams took at 45-27 lead into the locker room at the half.

In the second half, the Rams found themselves in an early battle as the Falcons came out of the locker room with an inspired effort, but the Rams would hold off the effort and fight their way to the win. Though their opponents continued to put up the solid effort, the Rams' maintained their lead for the entire half. Thirteen points were as close as the Rams would allow as the team held a 63-50 lead with just over five minutes left to play. In the final minutes, the two teams continued to battle, but the Rams were too much for the Falcons as the Rams held on for the victory.

With the win, the Rams improve to a perfect 2-0. "It's been a long time since we've been a dominant team," WSSU head men's basketball coach Bobby Collins said. "As long as we're shooting the ball well, we're going to be hard to beat."

The Rams will have a break as the team will return to action in a home opener against Allen on December 2nd at the C.E. Gaines Center on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. For more information on Rams basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.