Trevin Parks had a team-high 16 points in the 64-56 quarterfinals loss to ECSU
GOLDEN BULLS BASKETBALL FALLS SHORT OF A GALLANT COMEBACK AGAINST ECSU
JCSU exits the tournament in the quarterfinals for the 2nd time in three years
Written contributions from Brian Howard of Lincoln (PA) Sports Information
Box Score Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team suffered a 64-56 loss to Elizabeth City State University on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the 2012 CIAA Tournament inside the Time Warner Cable Arena. JCSU concludes the year 12-15 overall; their first losing record since the 1996-97 season.
The Golden Bulls dug themselves into an unlikely hole scoring a season-low 19 points in the first half. JCSU shot 25% (6-24) from the floor, while the Vikings connected on a season-high 65% (13-20) of their shot attempts. ECSU held a 35-19 advantage at halftime.
Junior center
Delonta Boyd (Washington, D.C.) had a team-high eight points and three rebounds at the break. All-CIAA junior guard
Trevin Parks (Hickory, NC) had one field goal and two free throws for five points in the opening half.
In the second half, JCSU trimmed the margin to 37-23 after a layup from Parks. But the Vikings continued to grind away with a 12-5 run to give Elizabeth City State a commanding 49-28 lead with 13:18 remaining.
The Golden Bulls showed no quit as they climbed back into the game with a furious 20-4 run to cut the deficit to 53-48 with 6:36 left. ECSU scored a basket to go up 56-48 with just over four minutes remaining. On the other end, JCSU got free throws by redshirt senior forward
Calvin Smith (Auburn, AL) and senior guard
James Otey (Roanoke, VA) to draw within four (56-52) with 2:45 left to play.
Johnson C. Smith trailed by just two (56-54) after Parks sank two shots at the charity stripe with 2:07 remaining.
Unfortunately, the large deficit was just too much to overcome for JCSU. Glenn Patterson hit a huge running jumper in the lane to kill the Golden Bulls momentum at the 1:40 mark. Marquie Cook scored a layup on the next possession and Angelo Sharpless closed the door with a tomahawk dunk with less than 30 in regulation.
Parks finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Boyd nearly cashed in on a double-double with 11 points and seven boards. Otey and Smith capped their careers with nine and eight points, respectively.
Sharpless, who has scored in double figures in 23 of the 27 games this season, led the Vikings with a double-double, 23 points and 14 rebounds. Glenn Patterson chipped in with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting as Elizabeth City State was 22-of-51 from the field for 43 percent.
Johnson C. Smith shot 27% (15-55) from the floor, but was a perfect (23-of-23) from the free-throw line.
“We were out-played, out-hustled and out-coached today,” said JCSU men's basketball head coach Stephen Joyner Sr. “I thought Elizabeth City played with great passion and understanding in the first half. We just weren't able to bring this team together.”
Elizabeth City State, the third seed from the Northern Division, advances to Friday's semifinal game against the winner of Bowie State/Livingstone at 7 p.m. The Vikings dropped a pair of regular season games to Bowie State (89-64 on Jan. 23 and 70-62 on Feb.), but defeated Livingstone (67-63) on Jan. 5.
