Feb. 20, 2010
Final Stats
NORFOLK, Va. – Paul Davis' 15 points were not enough for the Winston-Salem State University men's basketball team to overcome the Spartans of Norfolk State University on Saturday evening at Echols Hall in Norfolk, Va. as NSU handed WSSU a 74-50 loss.
The Spartans jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back as Norfolk State led from start to finish in a game that was much closer than the final 24-point margin indicated.
Norfolk State outscored the Rams 16-15 over the first eight minutes of the game as Winston-Salem State missed 10 of their first 11 shots in the contest.
The offensive misfires would haunt the Rams in the first half as WSSU hit only eight of their 21 first-half field goal attempts en route to 38.1 percent shooting during the first 20 minutes of play.
Conversely the Spartans would scorch the nets for 61.5 percent shooting in the half as NSU connected on 16 of 26 field goal attempts.
Despite the offensive disparity the Rams would trail the host-team Spartans by only nine points headed into the halftime intermission as WSSU kept well within striking distance.
The first 12 minutes of the second half would prove to be much of the same for the two storied programs as WSSU and Norfolk State continued to trade baskets as the Spartans steadfastly held on to their double-digit lead.
A Shelton Carter three-pointer with 12:11 remaining in the game trimmed NSU's lead to a manageable 10 points at 45-35 and a pair of Marcus Wells' free throws only 55 seconds later trimmed the Spartans' lead back under 10 points as WSSU made an offensive charge.
The comeback would be short-lived as Norfolk State scored the next five points of the contest and would close out the final eight minutes of play on a 29-13 run en route to the win.
A Paul Davis layup with 5:05 remaining in the contest would prove to be the Rams' last field goal of the game as Norfolk State clamped down on WSSU defensively and sealed the win.
The final five minutes of the game would see NSU cap a 16-4 offensive outburst with a Joe Dorsett-Jeffries dunk as the Spartans earned their eighth win of the season.
Paul Davis led the Rams with 15 points as he hit five of his eight field goals and missed only one of his six free throws as he was the only WSSU player to score in double-figures.
Michael Deloach led five NSU players in double-figures as he scored a game-high 18 points on six-of-11 shooting from the field.
The loss drops WSSU to 10-15 on the season while Norfolk State improves to 8-17 overall with the victory.
The Rams return to action on Monday, Feb. 22 at 8:00 p.m. as they travel to Greensboro, N.C. to face the Aggies of North Carolina A&T at the Greensboro Coliseum.
For additional information on WSSU 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.
