This Week in CIAA Men’s Basketball Action
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Posted By: How May I Help You NC on January 02, 2013 MARQUEE MATCHUP OF THE WEEK: #23 Winston-Salem State Rams (8-2) at Lincoln University Lions (7-2) Saturday January 5 League play gets into full gear this week as conference teams look to get off to a strong start in the always ultracompetitive CIAA divisional races. This week’s key conference matchup features a tilt between defending CIAA champion and preseason Southern Division favorite Winston-Salem State and Northern Division upstart Lincoln University. After a disappointing 1-2 start, the 23rd ranked Rams have regrouped and reeled off seven straight wins to improve to 8-2 entering the meat of their conference schedule. The Rams return to the hardwood for the first time in 2013 when they travel to Pennsylvania to take on resurgent Lincoln (PA) on Saturday. WSSU has not played a game since December 18 when they edged Virginia Union 66-65 in Richmond, while Lincoln will get to shake off the holiday rust first when they host perennial Southern Division contender Johnson C. Smith on Thursday. The Rams are led by a trio of Preseason All-CIAA picks in senior guards Justin Glover and Marcus Wells and sophomore forward WyKevin Bazemore, all integral contributors in Winston-Salem State’s run to the 2012 CIAA title. Glover leads the bunch, averaging 14 points a game. Six other Rams average between six and 10 points per game. Bazemore, last season’s CIAA Rookie of the Year, leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.3 boards a game. The Rams average 77.2 points per game and shoot 44.6 % from the field. After an 11-18 record last season, Lincoln (PA) is off to an encouraging 7-2 start this season. The Lions, picked to finish fifth in the Northern Division, opened the season with a confidence-building 68-62 road win over Division I Howard University and a close loss to Saint Leo’s University, who was ranked 14th in the Division II poll at the time. The Lions then rolled to five straight wins before a sluggish start against Central State ended in a 73-69 loss in their last game. Lincoln is led by guard Kenny Sharpe who is scoring 17 points a game. Guards George Jackson, Derrick Washington and forward Will Cole all average in double figures for the Lions who score 70.1 points per game. Tipoff is set for 4 pm at Lincoln’s Manuel Rivero Gymnasium. HOT HANDS: Winston-Salem State: Justin Glover, Sr. Guard 6-3 (14.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg), Wakefield Ellison, Sr. Forward 6-6 (10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg), WyKevin Bazemore, So. Forward 6-4 (8.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg), Marcus Wells, Sr. Guard 6-1 (7.5 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.5 rpg) Lincoln Lions: Kenny Sharpe, Guard, 6-3 Sr. (17.0 ppg, 4.1 apg, 2.7 rpg), George Jackson, Guard, 5-11 Jr. (14.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.1 spg), Will Cole, Forward, 6-8 So. (11.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Derrick Washington, Guard 6-0 Jr. (11.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 apg) LAST TIME OUT: Winston-Salem State 66 Virginia Union 65 Kimani Hunt scored on a layup at the buzzer as the Winston-Salem State Rams pulled out a 66-65 conference win over the Virginia Union Panthers in Richmond on December 18. Justin Glover led three Rams in double figures with 18 points. WyKevin Bazemore had 15 points, and six rebounds, while Victory Holloway added 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Hunt finished with seven points and six rebounds as the 23rd ranked Rams improved to 8-2. Lincoln University 69 Central State 73 The Lions rallied in the second half to whittle a 19-point deficit down to two before falling at home 73-69 to the Central State Marauders on December 19. Kenny Sharpe scored 21 of his career-high 26 points in the second half as the Lions nearly pulled off the huge comeback. Will Cole added 13 points, 7 rebounds and two blocks and George Jackson scored 11 points as the Lions saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. LAST MEETING: In their only meeting last season, Justin Glover had 17 points, 6 rebounds and three assists as Winston-Salem State defeated Lincoln 59-52 on January 16, 2012 at WSSU’s C.E. Gaines Center. Media Contact: Shera L. White Assistant Commissioner of Communications/Media Relations Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) 22 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 210 Hampton, VA 23666 O: 757-864-0196 F: 757-865-2586 E: swhite@theciaa.com www.TheCIAA.com www.ciaatournament.org Follow us: @CIAAForLife (Twitter) Facebook: CIAA Tournament If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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How May I Help You NC
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