Feb. 4, 2005

Winston-Salem, NC - The Winston-Salem State University Rams basketball team will take their five-game win streak and overall record of 14-5 on the road on Saturday evening as they travel to Durham, NC to face the Eagles of North Carolina Central University in an important CIAA Western Division basketball contest.

Complete Game Notes...To access the complete game notes for this contest, click this link: GAME NOTES

WSSU Update...The Rams are currently sporting a 14-5 overall record, and have moved to 7-1 in the CIAA (2-1 CIAA West) with Tuesday's 74-64 win over Fayetteville State University at Capel Arena in Fayetteville, NC. WSSU is riding a five-game win streak and is now receiving votes in the weekly NABC Division II national polls. The Rams were led in scoring by Alleggrie Guinn who recorded 21 points in the contest as he led three WSSU players into double-figures in scoring. Joining Guinn in double-digits were Rashad McGee with 12 points and Terris Sifford with 11. The Rams shot 48.3% from the floor and turned the ball over only 11 times, four below the WSSU season average. WSSU registered a season-high six blocks in the contest with Alleggrie Guinn collecting a pair, both coming in the second half of play. The Rams will return to action on Saturday evening as they travel to Durham, NC to face North Carolina Central University who has not lost at home (7-0) this season.

Rams Vs. Eagles...Meeting one of two during the 2004-05 regular season...Friday's game is the second game of the evening with the women's contest immediately before the game...WSSU is ranked #8 in the South Atlantic Region with five other CIAA teams also ranked...Rams enter the game on a five-game winning streak...Eagles enter the contest riding a one-game win streak and are coming off of a win over Johnson C. Smith...Rivalry between the Rams and Eagles has increased as of late...North Carolina Central won the last meeting on February 1st, 2004 (97-65) in Durham, NC...NCCU won the last head-to-head meeting and six of the last 12 overall...WSSU is coming off of a 74-64 win over the Broncos of Fayetteville State University on Tuesday...WSSU has defeated two ranked opponents thus far during the 2004-05 season.

Coaching Matchups...This game will pit WSSU head coach Philip Stitt versus newcomer Henry Dickerson...Stitt, in his fourth season, has amassed a record of 67-38 (.638) overall, while Dickerson is in his 1st season at North Carolina Central and has an overall coaching record of 11-7 at NCCU (.611)...Stitt is 2-4 (.400) versus North Carolina Central in his head coaching career...Dickerson has never faced off against WSSU while serving as head coach...Both coaches led their teams to wins over Bowie State this season, with those two losses being the Bulldogs only losses of the 2004-05 season.

1000 Point Watch...Alleggrie Guinn, a junior from Charlotte, NC is closing in on the 1,000 point mark. Through two and a half seasons, Guinn has tallied 926 points. Guinn has appeared in 76 games for the Rams, starting 56 of them. He has averaged 12.18 points per game throughout his career at WSSU, scoring 265 points as a freshman, 367 points as a sophomore, and 284 thus far in 2004-05 (as a junior). With eight regular-season games remaining, Guinn needs only 74 points, or an average of 9.25 points per game to shatter the 1,000 plateau during the 2004-05 regular season.

CIAA Eastern Division Vs. WSSU...The contest between Bowie State and the Rams was WSSU's fifth game versus the CIAA's Eastern Division in 2004-05 with the Rams posting a 5-0 record thus far this season...WSSU defeated #1 in the nation Virginia Union on January 4th, 2005 by the score of 76-62; defeated Elizabeth City State on January 6th, 2005 by the score of 60-46; and defeated Shaw University last Thursday, January 20th, 2005 by the score of 76-72 before defeating Virginia State on January 25th, 2005 (66-52) and Bowie State last Saturday (January 29th, 2005)...WSSU looks to stay perfect versus the CIAA's Eastern Division in 2004-05 if they can defeat St. Paul's later this season...The Rams faced Eastern-Division member St. Paul's in a non-conference game on November 20th, 2004 and defeated the Tigers 85-53.

CIAA Has Five Of Top Ten...The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is showing just how much quality talent is within the men's basketball ranks this season as five of the top ten teams in the South Atlantic Region Rankings are members of the CIAA, and a Ram opponent from this season sits at #1 in the region. USC-Upstate, who narrowly defeated the Rams this season is atop the region with the CIAA's Virginia Union in second, Bowie State in third, North Carolina Central in fifth, Winston-Salem State in eighth, and Johnson C. Smith in ninth. The Rams have defeated Virginia Union and Johnson C.Smith as well as Bowie State (last Saturday in Winston-Salem). WSSU will face NC Central this Saturday in Durham, NC.

TV Coverage...There is no television coverage for Saturday's contest N. Carolina Central. Check out the official website of WSSU Athletics at wssurams.com for future television updates and times. The Rams may appear on television as many as three times during the 2004-05 regular season, and will appear on ESPN 2/ESPN Classic during the 2005 CIAA Tournament due to the recent deal between the CIAA and ESPN to televise the entire 2005 tournament live on TV.

Radio Coverage...The game between the Rams and North Carolina Central will be available to listeners in the greater Winston-Salem area on WSNC, FM 90.5 with Chris Zona and the "Voice of the Rams", Bill Franklin calling all the action as well as nationally on the internet at www.wssu.edu by clicking on the link: "Listen to WSNC." Home radio is unannounced as of press time.

WSSU's Last Game...The Rams are coming off of a win over the Broncos of Fayetteville State University on Tuesday evening as they traveled to Capel Arena in Fayetteville, NC and defeated the home team 74-64 in an important CIAA Western Division contest. WSSU improved to 14-5 overall with the win as the Rams have now won five straight games and six of their last seven contests. The Rams are even receiving votes in the NABC Division II national polls. WSSU sits in second place in the CIAA's Western Division as they have played two less games than the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University who currently lead the division. WSSU will take to the road again on Saturday as they travel to Durham, NC to take on the Eagles in a CIAA Western Division contest. The Rams will be looking to increase their overall win streak to six games, which would be the longest such win streak of the season. WSSU had their Thursday contest versus Saint Paul's College postponed due to inclement weather.