Box Score WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – On a night when Coach Cleo Hill, Jr. was recognized for his 200th career win, the WSSU men's basketball team responded by clinching the CIAA Southern Division with a 69-60 win over Johnson C. Smith. The victory highlighted an undefeated season at the C.E. Gaines Center, the first in 22 years. It was the seventh straight win for the Rams and the 12th in the last 13 games.
WSSU improved to 18-5 overall, 12-3 in conference play, and 8-1 in the Southern Division. The Rams are also ranked 13th in the NCAA Atlantic regional poll.
In a typical Southern Division game between rivals, the score was tied seven times and featured nine lead changes. The Golden Bulls largest lead was four points at the 16:51 mark in the first half. 'SU led 26-21 at the half.
Samage Teel was 9-14 from the field, 3-5 beyond the arc, and 2-2 at the free-throw line to lead all Rams in scoring with 23 points. Xavier Fennell came off the bench to score 12 points, including a perfect 4-4 from the floor and 2-2 from the three-point line. Javonte Cooke rounded out the double figures scoring with 11 points.
Cameron Campbell had another solid game with nine points, five assists, and three rebounds. Jonathan Hicklin led the Rams in rebounding with seven and scored eight points.
'SU dominated in virtually every category. The Rams outscored JCSU 29-14 in the paint, 21-10 in points off turnovers, and 11-2 in fast breakpoints. WSSU's bench scoring obliterated the Golden Bulls bench, 39-7.
The Rams shot 45.5% from the field, 44.8% from the three-point line, and 78.6% from the free-throw line.
JCSU managed to maintain a small lead for the first 12 minutes of the game, before Teel hit his first three-pointer to give 'SU a one-point advantage, 13-12, with 7:41 on the clock. Teel's second three-pointer provided the Rams with an 18-14 lead.
Teel, who scored 14 points in the first half, hit a layup with 1:56 before intermission to put the Rams up 22-21.
DyQuavis Wilkins gave 'SU the lead for good with 12:15 to play in the game on a power dunk. Hicklin's jump shot with 6:54 remaining boosted the lead to 59-51. Augustine Ominu's dunk with 5:37 to play sliced JCSU's deficit to six points. The Rams defense held the Golden Bulls scoreless for the next 3:11 while Cooke's steal and three-pointer gave 'SU a 65-53 lead with 3:22 remaining.
JCSU managed a small rally, but Teel sealed the victory, making a layup and two free throws in the game's final 38 seconds.
WSSU travels to Salisbury for a 4 p.m. game against Livingstone in the final regular-season game. The CIAA Tournament pairings are scheduled to be released late Saturday or early Sunday morning.
