Johnson claims six offensive rebounds

Box Score
GREENSBORO, January 19, 2009 – A couple of days after seemingly rectifying the problem of knocking down shots, the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team ran into some new offensive problems on Monday night.

The Aggies grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, but could rarely turn those rebounds into points in a 78-64 loss to Delaware State at Corbett Sports Center. The Aggies also had trouble at the free throw line late in the second half, and shot just 36.5 percent from the field. It marked the third time in four games the Aggies have shot less than 40 percent from the floor.

The loss was the Aggies first home loss of the season. Junior Tavarus Alston led the Aggies with 17 points. Junior Robert Johnson added 12 points and seven rebounds with six of his rebounds coming on the offensive end.

“We should have had 80 points tonight with the number of offensive rebounds we had tonight,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Jerry Eaves. “Things are just out of kilter right now. We can’t get a tip-in to go. I know we missed at least 10 tips. We can’t get a put back to go in. We missed crucial free throws. We just can’t get the ball to go into the basket.”

Despite shooting just 28.6 percent in the first half, N.C. A&T only trailed 35-31 at the half thanks to aggressive play that gave the Aggies an 8-1 edge in free throws made. The Hornets also helped by turning the ball over 14 times in the first half.

But after shooting 55.2 percent in the first half, the Hornets remained hot in the second half. The Hornets, who shot 56.4 percent for the game, started to pull away early in the second half. A 10-2 Hornets run capped off by a Frisco Sandidge layup gave the Hornets a 51-37 lead with 14:33 to play.

The Aggies (7-11, 2-3 MEAC) would battle back throughout the second half. Alston and Thomas Coleman combined to score eight of the 10 points scored during a 10-2 Aggies run that cut the Hornets lead to six at 53-47. A Fred Bouie 3-pointer put the Hornets up nine, but an Ed Jones 3-point play put the Aggies back to within six at 56-50 with 8:16 to play.

But the Hornets would go 5-for-6 from the floor the rest of the way, while the Aggies missed six straight free throws down the stretch. Bouie led the Hornets with 22 points on 4-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Sandidge added 21 points, eight rebounds and five blocks as the Hornets improved to 4-15 overall and 2-2 in the MEAC.

“I don’t think it is how teams are playing us,’’ said Eaves about the Aggies shooting woes. “When we get opportunity off steals we miss those layups. We’re going to have to find a way to make the ball go in the basket. We’re going to have to become more physical in the paint offensively and defensively.”

The Aggies return to action Saturday night when they face arch-rival Winston-Salem State at 6 on the road. N.C. A&T will then play on a national television Monday night at S.C. State.