JCSU Hangs On For a 66-64 Win Over Wingate
JCSU Sports Information
Box Score Charlotte, N.C. (Jan. 2, 2016) –The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team had to withstand numerous comeback attempts by Wingate en route to a 66-64 win over the Bulldogs at Brayboy Gym on Saturday afternoon. JCSU's
Diondre Pratt led the way with 17 points, while teammate
Alandre Davis managed 12 points in the win.
In the early going, neither team could get their shooting touch, as JCSU missed their first two attempts while Wingate misfired on their first three. Both teams would eventually get it going, with Wingate able to take the 7-6 lead at the 14:58 mark following a Zeriq Lolar jumper.
After Wingate jumped out to a three point lead, sophomore
Dominic Fumbanks (Milwaukee, Wis.) was able to muscle past the Wingate defense to score a driving layup, making it 13-12 Wingate with 9:29 left.
The Golden Bulls were able to take the 19-15 lead after
Christian Kirchman (Roanoke, Va.) knocked down a three and following a Bulldog miss,
Diondre Pratt (Morven, N.C.) converted on a transition layup.
After a pair of
Stedmon Lemon (Lithonia, Ga.) free throws,
Josh Linson (San Antonio, Tex.) nailed a long three to make it 32-24. After Wingate answered with a jumper from Josh Dominguez, Pratt was able to breakaway to throw down a dunk to put JCSU ahead 34-26 with 1:23 left. After a Wingate free throw with 1:12 left, neither team could score again, with JCSU taking the 34-27 lead into the halftime break.
In the second half, JCSU boosted the lead to 38-28, their largest of the game after
Alandre Davis (Florence, S.C.) knocked down a jumper in the lane. Wingate begin to battle back, eventually cutting the Golden Bulls' lead to two points at the 11:15 mark after an Isiah Cureton shot made it 49-47. JCSU would respond, going up 55-48 thanks to a
Robert Davis (West Friendship, Md.) jumper with 8:45 left.
Wingate would again battle back to take a 56-55 lead with 6:31 to play after Josh Dominguez knocked down a free throw. After JCSU had stretched the lead back to six points thanks to a Pratt jumper, Wingate tied the game at 64-64 after Mike Baez found his shot from long range with 2:17 left.
That would prove to be the final points for the Bulldogs, as the teams traded missed baskets and turnovers the rest of the way until Lemon hit a jumper with 36.9 seconds remaining to give JCSU the 66-64 lead.
Wingate had one final chance following a timeout and went for the win by setting up a three point attempt but turned the ball over on their final possession as JCSU took the wild 66-64 win.
The win for JCSU breaks a four-game losing streak to Wingate and improves JCSU to 7-4 on the season while Wingate falls to 7-4 on the year.
The Golden Bulls will step back into CIAA play on Monday, Jan. 4, hosting Bowie State in a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.
