NCWC hoopsters drop exhibition
with Athletes-in-Action, 92-88
Rocky
Mount, NC
- The Battling Bishop men's
basketball team of North
Carolina Wesleyan dropped a
tight 92-88 exhibition versus
Athletes-in Action on Wednesday
night in Everett Gymnasium. The
Bishops, who trailed by 11 at
the break, out-scored AIA 49-42
in the second
half and forced an 88-88 tie
with 1:09 remaining.
Unfortunately, AIA knocked down
all four of its free throws down
the stretch to provide the final
margin of defeat for NCWC.
The Bishops opened the game with
a 12-0 run thanks to hot
shooting of junior Trey Drake.
AIA caught fire midway the
period, however, and took its
first lead at 24-23 with just
over 10 minutes left in the
period. AIA went on to
shoot 56 percent in the period
for a 50-39 halftime advantage.
In the second half, the Bishops'
pressure defense created scoring
opportunities for the offense,
and Wesleyan began chipping away
at the lead. A
three-pointer by junior Lamont
Stokes at the 1:09 mark
completed the comeback as the
two teams entered the final
minute tied 88-88.
AIA's Luke Payne drew a foul on
the next possession and calmly
knocked down both free throws
for a two-point lead.
Wesleyan managed to get a good
shot in its next possession, but
Jarmel Arrington's jumper rimmed
out and NCWC was forced to foul.
Tim Lewis proceeded to put the
game away with two more AIA free
throws, sealing the 92-88 final.
Drake finished with 20 points to
lead all players and dished out
a game-high six assists.
Arrington had 17, while senior
Adam Coleman and Stokes
contributed 16 and 14,
respectively. Coleman and
freshman Alex Murray recorded a
team-high six rebounds apiece.
For AIA, five players reached
double figures. Charleston
Long and Payne led the way with
13 each.
The Bishops shot nearly 55
percent from the floor in the
game, compared to AIA's 49
percent accuracy. AIA, however,
out-rebounded the Bishops
37-31in the contest.
Wesleyan officially kicks off
its 2008-2009 slate on Sunday
versus Wesley College. Game time
is slated for 1:00 p.m. in
Everett Gymnasium.
