Aggies out-rebound Rattlers 46-30

Box Score
GREENSBORO, February 7, 2009 – In a matter of a week, the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team has gone from the basement of the MEAC to one of the many contenders vying for the regular-season title.

The Aggies used their best shooting performance of the season (60.0 percent) to beat Florida A&M 73-63 at Corbett Sports Center Saturday evening. The Aggies (10-13, 4-5) now find themselves one of eight teams in the conference that has either four or five losses in the league. Morgan State leads the pack at 7-2. There are two components – a more aggressive 6-foot-9 Thomas Coleman and home games – the Aggies point to that might help them break away from the bunch.

“To have an inside presence is something that is dangerous in the (MEAC) because there are not a lot of big guys,’’ said senior guard Ed Jones, who recorded his first career-double double with 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. “When we get the inside game working, it opens the floor for our shooters. Thomas had a great game. We just have to keep harping on him to get rebounds and ask for the basketball.”

Coleman led the Aggies with 17 points and nine rebounds on 7-for-8 shooting. It marked just the sixth time this season Coleman has taken eight or more shots in a game.

“Thomas needs to know he should be 11-for-13,’’ N.C. A&T head coach Jerry Eaves said about the league-leader in blocked shots. “Seven-for-eight is not good enough. When he is more aggressive, we are much better.”

It was apparent early during Saturday’s game that the Aggies’ focus was to find Coleman in the middle. Coleman scored four of the Aggies first seven points, and it seemed to open things up against the smaller Rattlers. The Aggies hit 11 of their first 13 shots to take a 27-12 lead.

FAMU was able to cut the lead to eight, 39-31, by halftime. The Rattlers would get to within five in the first 30 seconds of the second half. The Aggies went back to Coleman to reignite the offense. Coleman scored two baskets at the start of an 18-2 Aggies run that gave the Aggies a 57-36 lead with 13:22 remaining in the game. Turnovers plagued the Aggies over the next nine minutes, allowing the Rattlers to get within seven at 6457 with a little more than four minutes to play.

“I think we played 30 minutes of great ball and probably 10 minutes of not securing the ball,’’ said Eaves, who saw his team turn the ball over 26 times. “Teams like (FAMU) can do that to you. I’ve coached teams like that for five years – one big man and four guys below 6-4. Teams like that stay after you. They play below your waist, and as soon as you bring the ball down they get a hand on it.”

Eaves put the ball in the hands of his point guard Tavarus Alston to secure the win. After a Coleman free throw, Alston strolled down the lane for a runner to give the Aggies a 67-57 lead. After two David Buchanan free throws, Alston took the ball strong to the basket again for another score. Buchanan cut the Aggies lead to eight again, but Alston and Coleman put the Rattlers away as Alston found Coleman sprinting toward the basket and connected with him on an alley-oop dunk that gave the Aggies a 71-61 lead with a little more than two minutes remaining.

Alston finished with 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds. “I have ton of shooters on my team, but I don’t have anyone that can create off the dribble except Tavarus,’’ said Eaves. “I have a ton of players who can catch and shoot. In order for them to be effective, you have to have someone you can throw it to in the post and create doubles so we play inside, out. Thomas needs to be that man.”

The Aggies will return home Monday night to play Bethune-Cookman at 8. Before Saturday’s game, the Aggies had played 15 of their previous 19 games on the road. As it turns it out, that could end up being an advantage.

“We’ve got five more home games,’’ said Eaves. “We have to take care of all five. I think we are in a situation where we can come in first or second in the conference. It’s just that close. Some of the teams in front of us have quite a few road games left, so I feel good about our situation. We just have to win our home games – every one of them.”