WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Winston-Salem State battled back from a halftime deficit and made the plays and the free throws need down the stretch to come away with a 71-67 road win over the Shaw Bears Wednesday night in Raleigh.
With the win, Winston-Salem State improves to 14-8 overall, 7-6 in the CIAA and 5-2 in the Southern Division. Coupled with a Livingstone loss, the Rams now into a first place tie in the division with the Blue Bears of Livingstone. Shaw falls to 10-13 overall, 5-8 in the CIAA and 1-6 in the Southern Division.
The game was a back and forth contest in the first half, with Shaw maintaining a lead throughout the first two media timeouts.
WSSU managed to keep it close and tie the game six times throughout that time frame, and would manage to take their first lead of the night at 28-27 in a Jordan Davis free throw.
Shaw would finish the half on a 7-2 run to take a 34-30 lead into the locker room.
The second half resembled the first half, as neither team could pull away, and the game would see six more ties in the half.
Shaw would run use a 7-0 midway through the half to go up 50-45, but Winston-Salem State would answer with their own 8-0 run to regain the lead on a Donta Harper basket and free throw to go up 53-50, with 7:25 left to play.
The game would continue to go back and forth, until Terrell Leach would knock down a three pointer with 4:49 left, to give WSSU a 59-56 advantage.
The game would come down to free throws, and Winston-Salem State would manage to knock down enough to come away with a 71-67 win.
WSSU was led in scoring by Marquez Jones, who finished with 15 points, two rebounds, a steal and an assist. Donta Harper added 14 points a rebound, a steal and an assist, while Javan Wells added 11 points, six steals, three bounds and an assist.
WyKevin Bazemore picked up his 11th double-double of the season, as he finished with 10 points, twelve rebounds, two assists and a steal. Terrell Leach and Jordan Davis each chipped in seven points, and CJ Ford added three points and five assists and Kerry Campbell and Quinton Alton each scored two points.
wssurams.com
