WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Winston-Salem State battled hard, but a late three pointer and four free throws by Chowan sealed the Rams fate as they would fall 71-67 to the Hawks in a CIAA cross divisional game on Saturday at the CE Gaines Center.

The loss drops Winston-Salem State to 8-5 overall and 1-3 in the CIAA, while Chowan University improves to 9-5 overall and 3-2 in the CIAA.

The Chowan Hawks scored the game's first basket , and controlled the early moments of the contest, racing out to a 12-4 lead with 14:48 on the first half clock.

WSSU would fight back to tie the game, and take their first lead of the night on two Donta Harper free throws with 11:52 to play in the first half, 18-17.

The Rams would maintain the lead until Chowan would tie the game at 27-27 with 6:46 on the clock.

The Hawks would take a brief 29-27 lead before the Rams would end the half on a 9-5 run to take a 36-34 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The second half was as tightly contested as the first, and the lead would go back and forth between the two teams until Chowan would surge ahead 52-50 with 9:53 left to play.

The Hawks would keep the pressure on WSSU and would extend their lead seven points at 57-50 with 8:22 left on the clock.

But the Rams would once again bear down, and would use a 7-0 run sparked by five points from Donta Harper and a breakaway dunk from Marquez Jones to once again tie the game, at 57-57 with 5:37 to go.

The Rams looked to be in control after a Donta Harper dunk and a three pointer from Terrell Leach put the Rams up 62-59 with just under four minutes.

But Chowan would not go away, and would tie the game at 64-64 on a jumper from Hank Edmonds with 1:35 left in the contest.

WSSu would miss a three point attempt on their next possession and the Hawks would get the rebound and call a timeout.

But the Hawks Kyree Bethel hit a deep three pointer coming out of the timeout to give the Hawks a three point lead at 67-64.

It was a lead the Rams could not come back from, and would fall 71-67.

WSSU shot just 32% from the free throw line, and were outrebounded 48-33 on the night.

Winston-Salem State was led by Donta Harper who scored 18 points to go with six rebounds, two assists and a steal. Marquez Jones added 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. WyKevin Bazemore chipped in 10 points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots and two assists. Terrell Leach added nine points, two assists and two steals.

Chowan was led by Mark Anthony Buright who finished with a game-high 22 points to go with three steals and two assists. Hank Edmonds added 10 points and seven rebounds. Josh Mellette added nine points and eight rebounds, and Kyree Bethel added nine points. Tiron Brown picked up eight rebounds and Trevis Buckhanon added seven rebounds.

Winston-Salem State will continue their homestand on Monday night, when they will host Elizabeth City State at 7:30pm in the CE Gaines Center.