Elizabeth City State grounds Falcons, 84-73

Elizabeth City State grounds Falcons, 84-73

March 2, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C.  – There's an old saying that while offense wins games, defense wins championships.

On Thursday in the CIAA Tournament quarterfinals, Elizabeth City State University proved that old adage is as true in tournament games as it is in championships.

Playing a tenacious man-to-man defense, ECSU, the third-seeded team in the CIAA’s Eastern Division, confounded the CIAA’s top three-point shooting team and second-seeded Western Division squad, Saint Augustine's College, coming away with an 84-73 upset in the quarterfinals of the CIAA Tournament on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C.

The Vikings’ defense shut down St. Aug’s three-point shooters, with Nicholas King going 3-for-11 and Antonio Fitzgerald going 0-for-5.

As a team, Saint Augustine's hit only seven of 25 three-point attempts.  In comparison, ECSU had the same number of treys on only 12 attempts.

Mitchell Moffatt led the Vikings with 15 points while Maurice Wilkerson had nine rebounds.

Barry Jones and Fitzgerald led Saint Augustine’s with 16 points apiece.  Claude Neeley had nine rebounds to lead the Falcons.

Although Jones quickly put the Falcons on top with a three-pointer, ECSU’s Moffatt answered with two treys of his own to put the Vikings up early in the contest.  By the 10-minute mark, St. Aug’s had more turnovers (6) than baskets (3) and was trailing the Vikings 15-10.

Then the Falcons brought out the talons.  Clawing and scratching for every basket, Neeley hit his next three of five shots and King hit two of four from the floor before a dunk by Deon Dixon tied the score at 19-19 with six minutes left.

After a three pointer by Devin Mooring, baskets by St. Aug’s Carl Gervais and Fitzgerald gave the Falcons the lead for the first time at 23-22 with just over four minutes left in the half.

St. Aug’s then took control over the last four minutes, outscoring ECSU 12-6 to take a 35-30 halftime lead.

The Vikings came out hot at the start of the second half, however, hitting threes and grabbing rebounds over the Falcons.  By the time Saint Augustine’s called a timeout with just over 17 minutes left, Elizabeth City State had outscored the Falcons 8-2 to take a 38-27 lead.

But then it was the Falcons’ turn to fight back.  With Jones leading the way, Saint Augustine’s closed the gap, and then took a 44-43 lead with just under 15 minutes left in the game.

Then the momentum swung back.  ECSU’s Courtney Castro hit a three pointer and then Edwin Coker scored on a break-away, giving Elizabeth City a 50-44 edge with 13:38 left.

More three pointers followed, first by Castro and then by Ben Bridges.  After a layup by Coker, Elizabeth City had stretched the lead to nine (57-48) with 10 minutes left to play.

Two minutes later, the Vikings were firmly in control when a layup by Coker gave ECSU an 11-point lead (61-50).

The Falcons never challenged again.

Elizabeth City State raised its record to 14-14 while Saint Augustine’s finishes the season at 20-7.

Elizabeth City State now advances to the CIAA Tournament semi-finals to face the winner of the North Carolina Central-Virginia Union game on Friday at 7 p.m. in Charlotte, N.C.