Benedict Downs JCSU in Home Opener, 76-66

Charlotte, N.C. (Nov. 17, 2017) – Visiting Benedict shot 50.9% from the field and steadily built a double-digit lead in the second half to down the Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team 76-66 in the home opener at the Claude Saunders/JCSU Tip Off Classic on Friday night.

After being down by only two points at halftime (38-36), JCSU was able to briefly take the lead at 39-38 after junior Roddric Ross (Forest City, N.C.) knocked down a mid-range jumper.  Benedict would retake the lead after two Dimitri Cook free throws to make it 40-39, a lead that they would not relinquish.

JCSU again cut the lead to a point (42-41) after a Malik Ford (Salisbury, N.C.) tip-in, but Benedict went on a 10-0 run to stretch their lead after Brandon Morris converted a layup and drawing a JCSU foul.  His free throw was good to make it 52-41 at the 13:39 mark.

The Golden Bulls would respond, cutting the Tiger lead back to five points with 8:22 to go following a Ross three-pointer that made it 58-53.

Benedict responded once more, pushing their lead back to 12 points (65-53) with 6:25 to go following a three-pointer from Rodney Prichard.

Another Ross three-pointer with 5:10 left got JCSU to within five points (65-60) once more, but The Tigers put the game away, going on another run, this time a 7-1 run to gain the 72-61 advantage with 2:13 left.

The Golden Bulls would get no closer than nine points the rest of the way, with Benedict taking the 76-66 win.

Cayse Minor (Winston-Salem, N.C.) led all JCSU scorers with 18 points.  He managed a 5-of-12 outing and hit three from long range. He also went 5-of-6 from the free throw line.  Ross had 17 points and a team-best eight rebounds while adding six assists on the night.  Senior Robert Davis (West Friendship, Md.) rounded out the double-figure scores for the Golden Bulls, finishing with 15 points.

Benedict got a game-high 28 points and 13 rebounds from Brandon Morris while Dimitri Cook finished with 18.  Prichard also had 14 for the Tigers, who improved to 4-0 on the season.

The loss drops JCSU to 3-1 on the year.

The Golden Bulls will return to host cross-town foe and nationally-ranked Queens University on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 4:00 p.m. to round out the Claude Saunders/JCSU Tip Off Classic. 

Fourth-ranked Queens downed CIAA foe Livingstone 104-60 in the early game on Friday.