Golden Bulls Outlast Falcons, 78-76
JCSU Sports Information
Box Score Charlotte, N.C. (Jan. 20, 2016) – The Johnson C. Smith men's basketball weathered a late St. Augustine's charge and survived a last second shot to take a 78-76 CIAA Southern Division win at Brayboy Gym on Wednesday night.
The Golden Bulls had three players score in double figures, with senior
Stedmon Lemon (Lithonia, Ga.) leading the way with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Teammate
Diondre Pratt (Morven, N.C.) had 22 points and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Pratt also led JCSU in rebounds with eight.
Josh Linson (San Antonio, Tex.) scored 10 points while knocking down two three pointers in the first half to round out the JCSU leaders. The Falcons got a game-high 28 points from junior Anthony Gaskins. Also scoring in double digits for the Falcons was Jeremy Saunders with 19 and Quincy January with 13 points.
The visiting Falcons wasted no time in putting JCSU in an early 11-4 hole, thanks to an Anthony Gaskins three pointer, followed by a jumper at the 15:50 mark. Quincy January added a layup at the 14:29 mark to provide the early lead. JCSU then battled back, eventually taking a four point lead at 25-21 after senior
Josh Linson (San Antonio, Tex.) buried a long ball at the 5:51 mark. Linson provided the Golden Bulls with a six point lead at 27-21 after a breakaway layup, but St. Augustine's would go on a 7-0 run to reclaim the 28-27 lead after another basket by Gaskins with 3:49 left.
After JCSU took a two point lead on another Linson basket, SAU's January tied the game at 32-32 on a tip-in with 1:03 left before the halftime buzzer.
Stedmon Lemon would put JCSU up 34-33 at the break after he nailed a jumper with 19 seconds left and was fouled, however, he was unable to hit the free throw. JCSU would then force a turnover but could not get a running half-court shot to go as the halftime buzzer sounded.
The Golden Bulls would build a 10 point lead late in the second half after
Michael Bowman (Salisbury, N.C.) converted a layup to put JCSU ahead 67-57 with 6:59 to play. The Falcons would begin their charge, trimming the Golden Bull lead to 75-74 with 59 seconds left. After
Stedmon Lemon knocked down two free throws to extend the lead to 77-74, the Falcons Anthony Gaskins hit a driving layup with 20 seconds left to make it 77-76.
Dre Huntley (Monroe, N.C.) would add a free throw to make it 78-76 with 15 seconds left and the JCSU defense managed to force SAU into a turnover. Hundley was fouled again and had a chance to put the game out of reach with two free throws, but missed on both opportunities.
The Falcons' Keith Crawford then had an open three pointer at the buzzer to win it, but his attempt bounced off, giving JCSU the narrow 78-76 win.
