Wills records 11^th career double-double

Box Score            Postgame Quotes                            Postgame Notes
PRINCESS ANNE, Md., January 19, 2008 – When December ended, the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team possessed the toughest strength of schedule in the nation.

Head coach Jerry Eaves said his team is still playing like they’re playing the toughest schedule in the nation. Steven Rush scored 20 points and hit five 3-pointers, and Jason Wills added 10 points and 10 rebounds to lead N.C. A&T to a hard-fought 61-49 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore. Austin Ewing added 11 points and five rebounds.

The win improved the Aggies to 7-9 overall and 2-2 in the conference, but the Aggies still shot just 38.3 percent from the floor and allowed the Hawks to earn nine steals.

“The layups we’ve missed the last two games are a result of the schedule we played early in the season,’’ said Eaves. “I think I may have scheduled a little too tough. It’s at the point where some of players are making our MEAC opponents Washington State or Pittsburgh. But I think as time goes on they’ll start making those layups.”

The Aggies trailed only once Saturday afternoon, 2-0 to start the game. But every time the Aggies spread the lead to double figures, the Hawks would fight back to make the game close again.

The Aggies pulled ahead 46-35 on a Ewing 3-pointer with 11:59 remaining in the game. But the Hawks went on a 9-2 run to pull to within three at 48-45 with 7:49 to remaining. The Hawks missed on two opportunities to move closer. Ewing made them pay for it again with another 3-pointer to give the Aggies a six-point advantage.

Two Thomas Coleman free throws and an Ed Jones follow of his own miss and another Ewing 3-pointer put the Aggies up by double figures again, 58-47 with 4:59 to play. It was the last push the Aggies needed as the Hawks never threatened the remainder of the game.

“Thank God Austin and Steven shots are starting to come back,’’ said Eaves, who saw Rush score 18 first-half points on five 3-pointers in the first half. “I think that is the first piece because we’ve been missing that for a longtime. As Steve and Austin start to hit shots it will take pressure of players like Ed Jones, Nick Wilson, Trahern Chaplin and Jason Wills because it will take some pressure off of them.”

The Aggies head to Delaware State to face the three-time defending MEAC regular-season champion Hornets in Dover, Del. State. The Hawks were led by Ed Tyson’s 13 points and seven rebounds.