WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- WSSU freshman, WyKevin Bazemore, had a career night with 24 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Winston-Salem State University Rams to a thrilling 67-66 win over Virginia Union on Saturday night in the CE Gaines Center on the WSSU campus.
With the win, Winston-Salem State moves to 9-2 overall, 2-0 in the CIAA Southern Division. Virginia Union falls to 6-8 overall and 0-1 in the CIAA's Northern Division.
The Rams would jump out to the early lead and would force the tempo from the onset. But then WSSU would get hit with some major bad luck and timing, as Preseason All-CIAA guard, Lamar Monger would go down with a knee injury, six minutes into the game, and would not return.
With Monger on the sideline, the Panthers would take advantage of the cold shooting Rams, and would keep Winston-Salem State at bay.
WyKevin Bazemore, Justin Glover and Stephon Platt would keep the WSSU Rams close, but Virginia Union would take a 34-33 halftime lead into the locker room at the break.
The second half was nip and tuck throughout most of the half, before WSSU would go cold and the Virginia Union Panthers would take control of the game, and looked to put the WSSU Rams away.
With 6:53 remaining, Virginia Union would take their largest lead of the night at 62-53, before WSSU's WyKevin Bazemore would put the Rams on his young back and would mount its comeback.
WSSU's WyKevin Bazemore would hit one free throw with four second remaining, and after missing the second, the Rams defense kept Virginia Union from advancing the ball and time expired for the WSSU win.
As has been the case in WSSU's wins this season, the Rams bench outscored the Panthers 36-8 and outrebounded Virginia Union, 47-35.
The score was tied seven times, and there were 10 different lead changes on the night.
WyKevin Bazemore finished with 24 points, 17 rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal, while Justin Glover finished with 14 points, one rebound, one assist, one blocked shot and two steals. Stephon Platt added nine points and three rebounds and Marcus Wells chipped in six points, four rebounds, one assist and three steals for Winston-Salem State.
Juan Wilson scored 20 points and pulled down six rebounds, and Wesley Simmons added 18 points and four rebounds for Virginia Union. Damion Harris added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers.
"Lamar (Monger) is definitely the heart and soul of our team, but when he went down, we needed someone to step up and take control and WyKevin (Bazemore) did that," says Bobby Collins, WSSU head coach.
"The guys trust WyKevin Bazemore, because of the way he goes about his business. He comes to work every day and never complains," added Collins. "There was no better time than tonight for someone else to step in and make the plays, and he did that."
"This was a great team effort by our guys," added Collins. "We have to put this win behind us, and get ready for a really tough Bowie State team on Monday night."
Winston-Salem State University will host the #15 ranked Bowie State Bulldogs on Monday night at 7:30pm in the CE Gaines Center.
