Emilio Parks shot 70% (7-10) from the floor and 100% (4-4) from the free throw line for a team-high 18 points in the 65-59 win over Virginia Union
Box Score
Richmond, VA – The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team squeezes out a 65-59 non-conference victory over Virginia Union University on Tuesday, November 20th at Barco-Stevens Gymnasium. JCSU improves to 5-0 overall, while the Panthers fall to 0-4 in the standings.
The Golden Bulls began the game with a scoring burst to jump out to a 17-6 lead in the initial seven minutes of play. Virginia Union managed to trim down the JCSU advantage as the half commenced. Both teams dealt with issues preventing them from moving ahead big. JCSU struggled with turnovers and the Panthers shot poorly from the free throw line.
Virginia Union eventually tied the game and took a lead (28-27) with free throws from Omar Briggs at the 3:53 mark. Senior forward
Robert Williams (Atlanta, GA) scored the next five points for the Golden Bulls to recapture an advantage. The half came to a close with a score in the post by senior forward
Kameko Walls (Winston-Salem, NC), followed by a buzzer-beating, 10-foot floater from junior guard
LaMarquis Letchaw (Dallas, TX).
JCSU led 36-32 at the break. The Golden Bulls committed 16 first half turnovers, compared to 11 turnovers for Virginia Union. VUU shot 33% (5-15) from the free throw line in the first half. Letchaw had an opening half team-high of 10 points, followed by senior forward
Antwan Wilkerson (Greensboro, NC) with seven points and nine rebounds.
In the second half, the Panthers tied the score on three occasions before eventually moving ahead. Ray Anderson made a jumper with 12:56 to play to knot up the score 44-44. Justin Ihkide connected on one of two free throws on the next VUU possession to grab a small lead. Virginia Union held onto their advantage until a surge came from JCSU around the eight minute mark.
Parks slammed the ball down with two hands off a pass from Williams for a 52-51 Golden Bulls' lead. Following that play, Letchaw successfully threw an alley-oop to Wilkerson which quieted the VUU crowd. Senior guard
Richard Daniels, Jr. (Winston-Salem, NC) drove the lane and kissed it off the glass for a 56-51 advantage with seven minutes remaining.
VUU trailed for the remainder of the contest after the JCSU scoring spurt. JCSU held a narrow 61-59 lead with 20 seconds on the clock. However, Parks and Daniels clutched the win with two sets of made free throws.
Parks had a team-high 18 points, along with eight rebounds. Williams chipped in 15 points, four boards, and two steals. Wilkerson tabbed a second consecutive double-double with 11 points and 18 rebounds. Letchaw had 10 points and eight assists, all his points were in the first half.
Anderson scored 13 points in the second half to finish with a game-high 19 points, along with four assists. Avery Jirmnson produced 11 points, five rebounds, and four steals. Jirmnson also had eight turnovers, fouled out, and shot 25% (3-12) from the free throw line.
This is the first time in head coach Stephen Joyner, Sr.'s 27-year career starting off the season at 5-0. This feat has not been accomplished at JCSU since the 1986-87 season under Coach Robert Moore.
"I'm pleasantly surprised at our record, being 5-0, especially having played five really good teams and three of the five games have been on the road," said JCSU head men's basketball coach and current CIAA Coach of the Week. "I would attribute our team's success to the student-athletes 'buying in' more and their desire to keep improving."
The Golden Bulls return to action on Saturday, November 23rd against Valdosta State University. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Valdosta State's campus in Valdosta, GA.
