Johnson leads a balanced attack

Box Score
DOVER, Del., February 16, 2009 – For the second straight season, the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team traveled to Dover, Del., had the game come down to wire, before pulling out a game that left the home crowd stunned.

This season, junior guard Tavarus Alston hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining to lead the Aggies to a 74-73 overtime win at Memorial Hall. It was the Aggies (13-13, 7-5 MEAC) fifth straight win overall and their third straight road win as they remain in a second-place tie in the MEAC.

Robert Johnson led a balanced Aggies attack with 13 points. Thomas Coleman added 12 points and eight rebounds as all 10 Aggies who played scored at least three points.

“My kids are continuing to grow,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Jerry Eaves. “We’re finding ways to win. We have just need to keep working and stay dedicated to what we’re trying to accomplish. I like the way we’re doing it because we’re doing as a team. There is not one man on our team you concentrate on without someone else hurting you.”

On Monday, that included reserve guard Dwane Joshua. Joshua hit back-to-back 3-pointers in regulation to give N.C. A&T a 62-60 lead. Joshua then took the ball from a driving Frisco Sandidge and had it roll out to Ed Jones for a breakaway dunk to give the Aggies a 64-60 advantage with 3:32 remaining in regulation.

But the Aggies could not hold the lead. They turned the ball over three times in the final two minutes. The last turnover, which was a fumble out of bounds by Jones, led to a Marcus Neal jump shot that tied the game at 64 with 25 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Alston saw his 3-point attempt to win the game go wide left.  

In overtime, the teams traded the lead four times before a Neal 3-pointer over the out-stretched arm of Jones went through the net for a 73-71 Delaware State lead with 1:15 remaining. On the Aggies next trip down the floor, Jones missed a 3-pointer, but Nick Wilson fought for the offensive rebound. Wilson snapped a pass to Johnson who went down the lane before he found fellow Greensboro native Alston open at the 3-point arc.

Alston hit his second game-winning 3-pointer in the last two weeks to give the Aggies the lead. Jones appeared to seal the game for the Aggies when he intercepted a Neal pass. After Alston received Jones’ pass he was fouled by Neal. Alston went to the line and missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw, giving the Hornets a chance to win.

But Neal’s game-winning attempt bounced off the back of the rim.

“Every time we get together with Delaware State, we have games like this,’’ said Eaves. “This was a great game for television. I thought they were going to try to get the ball inside to a big. Tavarus did a great job of not letting (Neal) get to the basket, and we came in here and stole another one.”

A year ago, the Aggies escaped with a 63-61 win thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Austin Ewing. The Aggies have now won back-to-back games in Dover for the first time since 1999 and 2000. The Aggies are .500 this late in the season since 2000.

The Aggies will play rival Winston-Salem State Saturday at Corbett Sports Center; starting at 4 p.m. Fans must have a paper ticket to earn entry into the game.