WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (8-8, 6-2 CIAA) used a big second half offense and some tough late defense to claim a 68-64 win over the Claflin Panthers (10-9, 5-5 CIAA). After trailing the Panthers for much of the game, the Rams stormed back late in the second half to claim the win.

The Rams took the win behind a great effort at both ends of the court. As a team, the Rams shot a solid 44.7% (21-of-47) from the floor. Sophomore guard Jaylen Alston led the way for the Rams with 26 points in the game. Senior guard Robert Colon added 13 points as well. Senior forward Mason Harrell pulled in a game-high 11 rebounds.

Things looked tough early for the Rams as the team struggled through much of the first half of play. The Rams opened the game with a solid start as a Colon dunk lifted WSSU to a 10-7 lead with 13:41 left in the half. However, the Rams allowed the Panthers to claim a lead near the midway point of the half and would trail them until halftime. The Rams fell behind by as many as seven points, 21-13 with 6:25 left in the first half. The Rams would cut their deficit down to just two points, 21-19 after a three-pointer from graduate Dontae Caldwell with 4:56 left in the half. Later in the half, the Rams found themselves trailing by eight points once again before a late run cut the WSSU deficit down to just five points 27-22 at halftime.

The second half told a much better effort as it was WSSU with the late push to claim the win. In the early going, the Rams found themselves trailing, 46-35 near the midway point of the half. It was then that the Rams began a furious comeback effort. The Rams went on a 14-2 run that was capped by a pair of free throws from sophomore guard Justice Kithcart gave the Rams their first lead of the half, 49-48, with 8:42 left to play. The Rams went on to claim a nine-point lead, 62-53, with 5:28 left to play. It was a pair of Colon free throws that capped the WSSU run. In the final minutes of the half, the Rams allowed the Panthers to go on a run and cut the WSSU lead down to just two points, 64-62 with 1:31 left to play. The Rams clamped down on defense in the final minute of the game as they allowed just one Claflin lay-up in the remainder of the game. The biggest play of the game came with just two seconds left when the Rams forced a Claflin turnover. The Rams coupled their defensive effort with four clutch free throws from Colon that sealed the 68-64 win.

With the win, the Rams improve to 8-8 overall and 6-2 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play. The team also moved to 2-1 in CIAA Southern Division play. The Rams will return to action, Saturday afternoon when the team hosts the Fayetteville State Broncos. For more information on Rams women's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.