Golden Bulls Post 91-85 Overtime Win at Fayetteville State
JCSU Sports Information
Box Score Fayetteville, N.C. (Feb. 7, 2015) – Johnson C. Smith came back from a six point halftime deficit and outscored Fayetteville State 13-7 in overtime to take a 91-85 CIAA road win on Saturday afternoon at the Felton J. Capel Arena.
JCSU started out hot, bolting to a 12-5 lead at the 13:52 mark after a pair of free throws from
Diondre Pratt (Morven, N.C.) The Golden Bull lead would be as many as nine in the first half at 17-9.
Fayetteville State responded, taking a narrow 25-23 lead at the 7:22 mark after a Davin Thompson three pointer. The Broncos would go up by three two possessions later, when Carl McCray knocked down a three pointer to make give the Broncos the 28-25 lead. The FSU lead would balloon to nine points at 43-34 after Joshua Dawson hit two free throws with 1:27 to play in the first half.
JCSU would trim the FSU lead to 43-37 after a pair of
Robert Davis, III (West Friendship, Md.) free throws, that would become the halftime margin.
In the second half, FSU would jump ahead by 11 at 48-37, as the Golden Bulls went without scoring for the first 4:13 of the second half. JCSU's
Gabon Williams (Charlotte, N.C.) broke the scoring drought by drilling a three pointer to make it 48-40. JCSU would then go on a 15-3 run over the next four minutes to take a 55-51 lead at the 12:02 mark thanks to three pointer from
Joshua Linson (San Antonio, Tex.).The two teams battled through the next six minutes, with neither being able to take control. JCSU's lead had evaporated when FSU's Anthony Shelton tied the game at 76-76 with 2:38 remaining. FSU would take the two point lead at 78-76 when Joshua Dawson dropped in a basket with 1:30 remaining.
JCSU's
Markell Lotharp (Marshville, N.C.) found himself at the right place at the right time when a Robert Davis jumper fell off the mark. The ball was knocked around by two FSU players and squirted free. Lotharp, alone under the basket, was able to pick it up and drop in the easy layup with 13 seconds to play, tying the game for the eighth and final time at 78-78 with 13 seconds remaining.
FSU's Dawson missed a game-winning three pointer, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra frame, the Golden Bulls scored the first seven points, taking an 85-78 lead after another Linson three pointer. After a
Stedmon Lemon (Lithonia, Ga.) layup that made it 87-78, FSU got to within five, when Torian Showers knocked down a three pointer to make it 87-82.
That would be the closest the Broncos would get, as
Emilio Parks (Ashtabula, Ohio) would seal the win with a dunk with 56 seconds to play, putting JCSU up 90-82. Parks would add a free throw to make it 91-82, but FSU's Preston Holmes got a three to go with 20 seconds left that would eventually be the final margin.
JCSU had six players score in double figures. Leading the way with 26 points for the Golden Bulls was
Stedmon Lemon. Robert Davis continued his solid play by scoring 15 points. Davis was 11-12 from the line in the effort. Senior
Emilio Parks had 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds while
Joshua Linson and
Diondre Pratt both had 11 points. Linson hit a team-high three, three-pointers while Pratt also had a great night at the free throw line, going nine-for-10.
Markell Lotharp finished with 10 points, knocking down two three-pointers in the process.
JCSU, winners of three straight games, improves to 12-11 overall, 6-6 in CIAA play while Fayetteville State falls to 11-11, 5-7 in league play.
The Golden Bulls look to avenge and earlier loss to St. Augustine's when they return to Brayboy Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Tipoff against the Falcons will be at 7:30 p.m.
