Dec. 5, 2005

Final Stats

Winston-Salem, NC - The basketball season may be just under a month old, yet the Rams of WSSU did not forget that the sting of an opening-day loss to the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne gave them on November 15, 2005.  The Rams, with that loss fresh on their minds, came out and earned a hard-fought 74-69 victory over those same Bears at the C.E. Gaines Center in Winston-Salem, NC on Monday evening.

The first half of play was one that saw the Rams and Bears exchange buckets for the better part of 20 minutes as the two competitors were never separated by more than seven points for the entire period of play.

The lead would change hands twice, and the Rams and Bears would both lead by as many as seven points each as neither team shot particularly well from the field.

However, the shooting edge would go in favor of the visiting Bears as Lenoir-Rhyne hit a respectable 42.9% of their field goal attempts (12 of 28) while the Rams ere a chilly 12 of 33 from the field (36.4%), including going a disappointing two of 13 from behind the three-point arch.

The shooting disparity would amount to a two-point LRC lead at the halftime intermission as the Bears led at the break 31-29 marking the seventh time in eight games that WSSU has trailed after first period play.

The second period of play was more of the status quo for the two teams, at least through the first 19 minutes of the half.  That is, until the waning moments when the contest got interesting.

Tied at 58-58, the Rams would control the ball with only 10 ticks left on the clock.  Sophomore Darrell Wonge pulled the proverbial trigger with five seconds remaining as he drilled a deep three-pointer that cleared the net with only three seconds remaining.

LRC's Josh Rudder, not to be outdone, promptly drilled a mid-court bomb that sent the crowd into a frenzy and sent the game to overtime.

The Rams controlled overtime, and Roy Peak's three with under a minute remaining put the Rams up six points and for all intents and purposes, sealed WSSU's win.  It would be free throws and desperation threes the rest of the way as WSSU earned the victory and the revenge.

With the win, the Rams pull even at 4-4 on the year while LRC drops to 3-4 overall.  Leading the way for the Rams was Jamal Durham with 20 points and nine rebounds as he led four WSSU players in double figures.  Josh Rudder led LRC with a game-high 23 points including six three-pointers.

WSSU returns to action on December 14, 2005 at 7:30 pm as they play host to CIAA rival Shaw University at 7:30 pm.

For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com

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