CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Jonathan Hicklin hit four critical free throws in the final 73 seconds of regulation, allowing visiting Winston-Salem State to survive a game-tying three-pointer by Johnson C. Smith with 17 seconds left, and the Rams held on to win 80-79 in overtime at Brayboy Gym. The Rams improved to 12-5 overall and 3-1 in CIAA Southern Division play.

Javonte Cooke led 'SU in scoring on 50% shooting from the field (9-18) and the three-point line (6-12) for 29 points.  Samage Teel added 23 points.  Hicklin scored 17 and led the Rams in rebounding with seven.

The game featured nine ties and six lead changes.  WSSU's largest advantage was five points 76 seconds after the opening tip.  The Golden Bulls were up by 14 points with 7:03 remaining in the first half when 'SU went 7:14 without scoring.

The Rams came roaring back when Teel hit two-three pointers, Cooke added another plus a layup and Xavier Fennell's slam dunk to cut the Rams' deficit to six points at 30-24 with 2:51 to go. The WSSU comeback continued with Cooke hitting five free throws and a dunk to go along with layups by Teel and Hicklin to give 'SU a 35-33 advantage at the break.

Neither team could gain a significant advantage in the second half.  WSSU's largest lead was four points on a three-pointer by Isaac Parson with 11:20 remaining in regulation.  JCSU's largest lead was two points.  Fennell's steal with 26 seconds to play forced the Golden Bulls to foul Hicklin with 23 seconds on the clock.  Hicklin hit his second pair of free throws, lifting the Rams to a three-point lead. Michael Roberson's three-pointer tied the game with 17 seconds left in regulation.

The Rams struck first in overtime on Shamon Jackson's layup with 3:59 to play. Smith's only overtime lead would come at the 2:31 mark.  Augustine Ominnu's two free throws gave the Golden Bulls a 78-77 lead. Cooke hit his sixth-pointer only 17 seconds later to increase the Rams lead back to two points. Ominnu hit one of two free throws with 24 seconds to go, and the Rams prevailed.

The WSSU victory avenged a two-point loss to JCSU on February 19, 2020, in Charlotte.  The Rams have won three of the last four meetings.

WSSU will return to the C.E. Gaines Center for home games against Livingstone at 4 p.m. Saturday and Bowie State at 7:30 Monday night.