The Saint Augustine’s University men’s basketball team has not won the CIAA championship since 2010 but they have taken a step forward under head coach Chucky Brown and their chances are better than they have been in years. The Falcons, lead by led by Nemo Johnson, who was a preseason all CIAA candidate, are 9-5 at home and 2-10 on the road and 0-1 on a neutral site.
The Falcons are led in scoring Johnson and by senior guard Jordan Love, who both have 260 points. Johnson also leads the team in rebounds and double doubles. Mac Hughes andm Jawan Browder lead the team in 3-point percentage.
In an interview with the Falcon Forum, Coach Brown said he was optimistic about the team’s tournament chances in the Baltimore tournament. “In previous seasons we were undersized compared to most teams and didn’t have the experiences as other teams as we did this season,” Brown said. “Nemo Johnson has played well enough to be in consideration for the all-CIAA team because he third in the conference in rebounds despite being undersized and second on his team in scoring.”
Coach Brown also stated that he credits the guard play he is getting from Love and Jalen Williams as the reason for their success this season. Williams leads this team in assists and is fifth in free throw percentage.
Love told the Falcon Forum that the key was a strong start. “The Falcons simply play better at home based on the beginning of the game as compared to on the road. We are a good basketball team but we can’t start slow…in a harsh environment.”
Johnson said the team aims to come home with the winner’s trophy. “We have seen most of these teams and we have beaten most of these teams, like Winston-Salem State University, who beat us by 44 but we beat them when we were at home. So it only matters as to what team will show up at that given time.”
The Falcons play Monday night against Bluefield State in the play-in game.
— Brenton Chapple
