WSSU takes down SPC Tigers

March 1, 2006

Charlotte, North Carolina The Western Division's third seeded Winston-Salem State University Rams hardly broke a sweat in their fight with the Eastern Division's sixth seeded Tigers of Saint Paul's College. The Rams will sport the specially designed "C.E. GAINES" uniforms into round two as they terminated the Tigers' tournament trip with a 74 38 thrashing.

The run and gun Rams jump started their match-up against SPC with a 7 1 scoring run. The Tigers pounced back on their paws to be within one (7 6) of WSSU with a three-pointer by Hassan Robinson and a tip-in by Jack Browne. However, the Tigers tripped up over their 11 turnovers; in which WSSU used to score 12 points. SPC struggled from the field shooting nine of thirty (30%) and one of twelve (12.5%) from three-point territory. Meanwhile, WSSU drained 15 of their 35 field goal attempts (42.9%). Despite being held scoreless in almost the last four minutes of the half, the Rams relaxed into the intermission leading 44 28.

WSSU not only had a strong grip on the tempo in the second half, but the Tigers' point total as well. SPC shot a spine tingling 13.8% (four of twenty-nine) from the field and missed all eight attempts from behind the arc. The other two points in SPC's 10 point total were a free-throw each by Hassan Robinson and then by Marcus Mitchell. Pouring scoring runs here and there by the Rams resulted in a wall high lead that nearly doubled their 19 point lead in the first half.

The Rams had four players to finish in double figures. Alleggrie Guinn scored 14 of his game high 17 points in the first half. Other scoring was provided by Audly Wehner with 15 points, Corey Parker with 11 points, and Darrell Wonge with 10 points.

SPC Head Coach Edward Joyner, Sr. commented in the post press conference, "I wish we could have won, but I am very proud of these kids." Joyner went on to say, "We won 11 games this year, I have the Rookie of the Year, an All-CIAA Team Player, and they gave me my 100th win of my career."

Leading in scoring for the Tigers was Hassan Robinson with 10 points. SPC's Jamaal Conley led defensively collecting game high 11 rebounds.

The WSSU Rams will take center court of the Charlotte Bobcats Arena against the second seeded Eastern Division Bowie State Bulldogs Thursday, March 2, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.