Dec. 17, 2007

Final Stats |  Quotes |  Notes

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The young Winston-Salem State University men's basketball team grew up in a hurry on Monday evening at the C.E. Gaines Center in Winston-Salem, NC as they overcame a 19-point first half deficit to defeat the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M University by the score of 78-76 in men's non-conference basketball action.

The Bulldogs started the contest on a 7-2 run over the game's first three minutes as the Rams opened the game shooting only 31.3 percent from the field in the opening half of play.

Trant Sampson helped the Bulldogs with 10 points in the game's first 20 minutes of play as Alabama A&M used a 23-8 run over the span of 6:27 to turn a four-point game into a 19-point contest with only 2:31 remaining in the first period.

Fifth-year senior point guard Roy Peake kept the Rams in the contest during the first half as he scored 15 of his career-high 18 points during the game's first 20 minutes including scoring four of WSSU's final six points of the half.

The 11-point deficit marked the Rams largest halftime deficit since trailing by 14 points at Duquesne on November 12, 2007.

Bobby Collins and the Rams used multiple lineup changes and defensive adjustments in the second half as game-plan changes immediately paid dividends for WSSU as the Rams used a half-opening 26-12 run that trimmed the AAMU lead to only three points with 11:36 remaining in the contest.

WSSU continued to trim the lead as the hot shooting of Michael Puckett and the rebounding of freshman Paul Davis would eventually give WSSU their first lead of the contest at 66-64 with little more than eight minutes to play in the contest.

The Rams, despite missing five of their last eight shots from the free throw line were able to hang on for the 78-76 victory in front of 1107 fans at the C.E. Gaines Center.

Leading the way for the Rams was Michael Puckett with a career-high 19 points in the contest.  He was joined by Roy Peake who posted a career-high 18 points in the win.  Paul Davis chipped in with 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for WSSU.

Leading the way for the Bulldogs was Trant Sampson with 18 points as he led four AAMU players in double figures in the loss.

The Rams improve to 3-5 overall with the win as the Bulldogs drop to 3-5 overall with the loss.  WSSU returns to action on December 19, 2007 at the C.E. Gaines Center as they play host to Ferrum College at 7:00 pm.

For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURams.com.