Jan. 4, 2005
Winston-Salem, NC - Not many people would have predicted the eventual outcome of Tuesday's men's basketball contest at the C.E. Gaines Center between the 7-4 Winston-Salem State University Rams and the #1 ranked Panthers of Virginia Union University. The important thing however, is that the Ram players and coaches would have predicted it, as WSSU handed fellow CIAA-foe Virginia Union their first loss of the season by the score of 76-62 and effectively ended the Panthers' three week stay atop the Division II national rankings in the process.
The Panthers, who came into the contest riding an eight-game win streak (8-0 overall) had faced a deficit of no larger than nine points all season long (coming to nationally-ranked Columbus State last weekend) and were firmly entrenched at the top of the Division II NCAA rankings. However, the Rams, who were, quite to the contrary, riding a two-game losing streak, would come out of the gate firing as they jumped out to a four-point lead only five minutes into the contest, and would never trail again, leading by as many as 20 points only moments into the second half of play.
The first half of play was all WSSU as the Rams shot a blistering 53.6% from the field (15 of 28) during the first 20 minutes and hit an astonishing 58.3% of their three-point field goals, making seven of their 12 first-half attempts.
WSSU also used their trademark high-pressure defense to force nine Virginia Union turnovers in the half in comparison to the host-teams four as WSSU would eventually finish the contest with a season-low 12 giveaways.
Virginia Union showed poise in the waning moments of the first period as they trimmed a 14-point WSSU cushion back to 10 points as time expired when Darius Hargrove hit a leaner in the paint with only 19 seconds to play.
The 4-0 run would send the teams to the locker room with WSSU holding a 42-32 advantage heading into the second half.
WSSU would not be denied in the second half as questions of the Rams' being able to maintain their lead were soon erased as WSSU would mount a 14-4 run during the first five minutes of second-period play to push their lead to a game-high 20 points at 56-36.
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The Rams got 20-plus point performances from Alleggrie Guinn, who scored a game-high 25 points in the contest, and Audly Wehner who chipped in with 23 helping to prove why he was a unanimous choice for the CIAA's Rookie of the Year last season.
Virginia Union was led by Darius Hargrove with 17 points as four of the Panthers' five starters turned in double-digit scoring performances in a losing effort.
The win improves WSSU to 8-4 overall (1-0 CIAA) while the Panthers fall to 8-1 overall (0-1 CIAA) and will more than likely fall from atop the national rankings when the updated polls are released next Tuesday.
For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com
