JCSU Men's Basketball Takes Down Lees-McRae, 77-61
Charlotte,  N.C. (Nov. 21, 2017) –  The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team held visiting Lees-McRae to just 28.8 % from the field and forced 19 turnovers, taking a 7-61 nonconference win on Tuesday night at Brayboy Gym.
After Lees McRae took the 13-11 lead following a Jason Saintizaire basket, the Golden Bulls went on a 14-4 run capped by a
Robert Davis (West Friendship, Md.) layup, making it 25-17 with 6:57 left in the first half. The JCSU lead would expand to 15 points (36-21) with 1:17 left after
Arthur Bennett (Poweder Springs, Ga.) connected on a pair of free throws.
Lees-McRae would cut the lead to 36-24 with 22 seconds before the half on a free throw from Lapreece Lynch. After a JCSU turnover, the Bobcats looked to further cut into the JCSU lead, but a Jordan Turner three pointer at the buzzer was off the mark heading into the halftime break.
Lees-McRae made a 8-0 run to start the second half, cutting the JCSU lead to 36-34 following a breakaway dunk and three-pointer from Saintizaire.
The Golden Bulls regrouped, building the lead back to 16 points (55-39) with 10:10 to go after two more Bennett free throws. JCSU kept pouring it on, building their largest lead of the game 76-55 and would keep Lees-McRae at bay, leading by no less than 16 points the rest of the way.
Individually,
Roddric Ross (Forest City, N.C.) contributed a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds on the night. He finished 6-of-10 from the field, hit one from distance and added a free throw.
Davis, led all scorers with 27 points on a 9-of-20 outing, including three from long range. He also finished 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Senior guard
Christian Kirchman (Roanoke, Va.) had 12 points and added a team-best seven assists while Bennett also had a season-high 12 points.
The win improves JCSU to 4-2 on the year while Lees-McRae drops to 2-3.
The Golden Bulls will have a short turnaround, hosting local foe Belmont Abbey on Friday, Nov. 24 at 6:00 p.m.
