Nov. 15, 2003

Winston-Salem, NC - In the game of basketball, it often comes down to fundamentals. Teams that consistently do the basic things well often win more ball games than those who don't. That, in a nutshell, is what the game between the Winston-Salem State University Rams and Longwood Lancers would boil down to...fundamentals.

Young teams, and make no mistake about it, the Rams are young, often lose close games due to breakdowns in fundamentals, and Saturday night the Rams would see fundamental mistakes snatch a victory away from them.

Winston-Salem State played a good game by all accounts. Despite having opening game jitters, and missing a few easy buckets, the Rams did everything they could against a very good Lancer basketball team.

The teams would head to the locker rooms at halftime tied at 31-31 and the second half would be more of the same. The lead would flip-flop more than a dozen times with the largest lead of the game being only eight by either team.

The Rams benefited from stellar games from their young players as Audly Wehner (Fr./F/6'6"/215/Fayetteville, NC) would lead the Rams with 20 points on 10 for 17 shooting, as well as chipping in with six rebounds and a block. He was joined by 2002-03 CIAA All-Rookie selection Alleggrie Guinn (So./G/6'3"/170/Charlotte, NC) who recorded 15 points on 7 of 11 shooting and grabbed six boards.

However, it would all come down to late in the game, and fundamental breakdowns killing the Rams.

After Jay Maynard (Sr./G/6'1"/180/Jacksonville, NC) netted his 17th point of the contest (17 pts, 4 rebs. 4 assists, 1 steal) to cap yet another great individual performance, the Rams looked to be in control.

When Vince Sessoms (Sr./F/6'3"/200/Kinston, NC) drew a charge from Longwood All-American forward Charles Stephens (F/Sr./6'4"/Danville, VA) with 18.1 seconds remaining and the Rams leading by two points, the game looked to be over.

The faithful Ram fans would watch as 2002-03's best free-throw shooter Rashad McGee (Jr./G/5'10"/190/Waxhaw, NC), a 94% free-throw shooter last season, would step to the line looking to ice the game. After missing both ends of a double bonus, the Lancers would get the ball back.

After a missed layup by the Lancers' Mike Jefferson rolled out of bounds with 0.8 seconds remaining, it looked as though the Rams would escape with a victory even after McGee's inability to hit either free throw.

However, it would be Stephens who would redeem himself from the earlier charge, and prove why he is indeed worthy of All-American status, as he drilled a 30 footer to propel Longwood to their first win of the season, 71-70 over the Rams.

The inability to hit late-game free-throws, something that experienced teams usually do, proves that the young Rams are still exhibiting some growing pains as they fell to 0-1 on the season. They will try to avenge the loss as they travel to Greenwood, SC on November 18th to take on Lander at 7:30 pm.