WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (6-7, 3-2 CIAA) utilized some clutch defense to claim a key 63-61 win over the Virginia Union Panthers (9-7, 3-1 CIAA), Saturday evening. The Rams played some clutch defense late to claim the win against the Panthers.

Though the WSSU defense closed out the game, the Rams had a great effort at both ends of the court in the win. As a team, the Rams shot a solid 38.8% (19-of-49) in the game. WSSU sophomore guard Jaylen Alston led the way for the Rams with 23 points in the game. Senior guard Robert Colon added 22 points as well. Sophomore guard Jonathan Hicklin pulled in 11 rebounds to lead the Rams.

The game was a dramatic one from the very beginning with both teams giving their best efforts from the opening tip. In the beginning, it was the Rams who took the early lead as a Colon free throw with 14:32 left in the first half gave the Rams a 13-7 lead. Things would get a bit tougher for the Rams as they allowed the Panthers to claim a 20-16 lead after a 13-3 run. As the half went on the two teams went back and forth before the Rams took their largest lead of the half, 36-30, after an Alston lay-up with 2:11 left in the half. Though the Rams were held scoreless for the remainder of the half, the team held off the Panthers and took a 36-35 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The second half was just as thrilling as the first half and once again, the Rams held off a furious effort by the Panthers to close out the win. Things got interesting early as the Rams' lead was erased in the first five minutes as the Rams allowed the Panthers to tie the game, 41-41, with 15:38 left in the game. The Rams would not let go of their lead, but the team could not pull away from the Panthers. As the half went on, the Rams stayed ahead of the Panthers until just over seven minutes to play when a VUU lay-up left the Rams trailing, 53-51, with 7:36 left to play. Things got tougher for the Rams as the team fell behind by as many as six points, 57-51, with 3:49 left to play. It was then that the Rams would take over the game. WSSU went on a 7-1 run that tied the game, 58-58, with 2:05 left to play. After falling behind once again, the Rams closed out the game with some furious play in the final minutes. An Alston three-point play tied the game, 61-61 with 1:26 left to play. The Rams went ahead for good with another Alston lay-up with just 00:21 left to play that left WSSU with a 62-61 lead. From there, it was the WSSU defense that led the way when the Rams forced a VUU missed lay-up that was followed by an Alston defensive rebound and free throw that sealed the 63-61 win for the Rams.

With the win, the Rams improve to 6-7 overall and 4-2 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play. The team will return to action, Monday when they host the Elizabeth City State Vikings in a 7:30 p.m. game. For more information on Rams men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.