WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Jan. 13) – Tyre Gathright (Jr./Wilmington, NC) scored 19 points and Kenneth Collins (Sr./Clayton, NC) added 18 points off the bench including two huge three-pointers late as Saint Augustine’s University outlasted Winston-Salem State University 74-65 Saturday in its CIAA Southern Division men’s basketball opener at the Gaines Center.
The victory was the third straight and the seventh in eight games for the streaking Falcons (1-0 Southern Division, 6-1 CIAA, 9-9 overall), who have played all but four games on the road. They defeated Winston-Salem State for the first time in Winston-Salem, N.C., since the Rams rejoined the CIAA in the 2010-11 season.
Led by Gathright and Collins, the Falcons drained a season-high 11 three-pointers on 22 attempts for 50 percent. Gathright was 3 of 5 and Collins was 4 of 6 behind the arc including two big treys which stopped a Rams’ comeback.
The Rams whittled a 20-point Falcons’ lead to one at 61-60 with 3:19 left, but Collins drained back-to-back three-pointers to give the Falcons breathing room. His first three-pointer from the left wing pushed the margin to 64-60. After the Rams missed a three-pointer, Collins banked in a shot from well beyond the three-point line for a seven-point lead with 1:54 remaining. Both baskets keyed a 13-5 run which clinched the game for the Falcons.
Quincy January (Sr./Atlanta, GA) added eight points, 12 rebounds and four assists as six Falcons scored seven or more points. Kasey Bryant (Sr./Raleigh, NC) and Rashad George (R-Fr./Raleigh, NC) each added nine points with George grabbing six rebounds, and Ishmael Baldwin (Jr./Kinston, NC) registered seven points. The Falcons shot 47.9 percent overall from the floor.
The Falcons made 7 of 14 threes in the first half to take a 36-23 halftime lead. Gathright was 3 of 4 and Collins 2 of 3 as the Falcons took control from the opening tip. They never trailed after taking a 5-4 lead which increased to 23-6 on a three from Gathright. The Rams trimmed their deficit to 33-23 but Gathright ended the half with a three-pointer for a 13-point lead.
The second half was more of the same early on as the Falcons scored the first seven points capped by Baldwin’s three-pointer for a 43-23 lead. The margin reached 20 again at 45-25 on Gathright’s layup before the Rams rallied back in the game.
But the Falcons shot 52.2 percent in the second half including 50 percent from three-point land to tilt the game in their favor. They also held the Rams to 37.3 percent shooting overall which marks the eight consecutive game that an opponent shot less than 40 percent against the Falcons. The Rams (0-1 Southern Division, 2-5 CIAA, 4-12 overall) struggled at the free throw line, making 15 of 30 attempts for 50 percent.
Derick Brewer, Jr. scored 17 points including 14 in the second half for the Rams. Julius Barnes added 12 points, William Crandell contributed 11 points and Jamel McCallister had 10 points.
The Falcons will play their sixth straight road game Jan. 20 against Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. Game time is 4 p.m.
