Jan. 15, 2004
Raleigh, NC - Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University is a very difficult place to get a victory if you are a visiting team, but it is nearly impossible to get a win there if you commit 20 turnovers, miss a season-high 20 three-point field goals, shoot a combined 32.3% from the floor and go more than seven minutes in the second half without a field goal as the Winston-Salem State University Rams did on Thursday evening in a 70-61 loss to the Bears of Shaw.
The Rams started the game off on the right note as they would lead 8-0 on four consecutive baskets by forward Audly Wehner (Fr./F/6'5"/Fayetteville, NC) but WSSU's inside presence would all but evaporate after the halftime intermission.
The Rams, who had not lost a game when leading at halftime (12-0 until Thursday's loss to Shaw), led at the break for the 13th time this season (out of 16 games) but were unable to hold on as they fell in defeat in a CIAA league basketball contest.
The second half saw the Rams get away from their inside game and turn into a jump shooting team. WSSU, who is usually a reliable shooting team from the perimeter saw their guards go a combined 8 for 36 from the floor as well as miss 20 of 25 three-point field goal attempts.
The Rams would also go more than seven minutes without a field goal midway through the second half and saw a four-point lead turn into a 10-point deficit, one that they would never fully recover from.
The lone bright spot for the Rams was Wehner, who finished with 20 points, on six of 14 shooting, as well as pulling down six rebounds and dishing out three assists.
Jay Maynard's (Sr./6'1"/G/Jacksonville, NC) return to the starting lineup, after recovering from surgery on his leg, was inauspicious to say the least as he would go 2 for 13 from the floor and miss 11 of his 13 three-point field goal attempts.
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The Bears were the beneficiaries of having four players who recorded double-digit scoring as they were led by Ricky Williams who tallied 20 points.
The loss drops the Rams to 12-4 overall, 3-3 in the CIAA (1-1 Western Division) while the Bears improve to 5-10 overall (2-3 CIAA).
WSSU is in action again on Saturday, January 17th at 4:00 pm as they play host to the Tigers of St. Paul's in the CE Gaines Center.
