Coleman ties the school’s single-season blocked shots record

Box Score
GREENSBORO, February 21, 2009 – Perhaps Winston-Salem State guard Brian Fisher summed up Saturday evenings game between arch-rivals North Carolina A&T and WSSU.

“He is a good player,’’ said Fisher referring to Aggies point guard Tavarus Alston. “He picked up those two fouls early. When he got back into the game, we had not built up a big enough lead. He got his team back into it and they got a lot of easy transition baskets.”

Alston scored 15 points, dished out three assists and recorded three steals in just 20 minutes to lead the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team to a 68-61 win in front of a sellout crowd at Corbett Sports Center.

Alston, who also had a fantastic game in the Aggies win over the Rams in Winston-Salem last month, left Saturday’s game at the 18:59 of the first half after picking up two offensive fouls.

“I wasn’t really worried,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Jerry Eaves. “We’re a team. I have no idea who is going to be our leading scorer game in and game out. I don’t even think about it anymore. I knew in the second half he would have energy and his legs would be fresh.”

Alston’s backup Marc Hill played well in his place, turning the ball over just one time in 14 minutes. The Rams were not able to establish a lead until the final minute of the first half as they took a 31-26 lead into the locker room.

Alston returned for the start of the second half and according to Eaves he wasn’t going to sit much. “I didn’t care if he picked up his third foul in the first 30 seconds, he was going to play the last 20 minutes,’’ said Eaves.

Even with Alston on the floor the Aggies still trailed 47-45 on a Jemarcus McClinton layup with 8:02 remaining. Winston-Salem State head coach Bobby Collins felt comfortable with the Rams’ zone that served to slow down the Aggies running game. Then Aggies swingman Nick Wilson happened.

Wilson stepped a few feet back from the 3-point arc and knocked the shot down to give the Aggies a 48-47 lead with 7:35 remaining. N.C. A&T never relinquished the lead again.

"I thought it was a big shot,’’ said Collins about Wilson’s three. “It got them back into the flow. "It was a deep three and it was against our zone at a point when I thought our zone was bothering them a little bit. The difference was we got stops but then we didn't capitalize on the other end."

Alston took the Aggies to victory from there. After two Robert Johnson free throws, Alston got the Aggies out on the break after a Thomas Coleman block and found Ed Jones ahead of the Rams defense for an easy layup. That play was followed by Alston finding an open Kam Shepherd underneath the basket for a dunk.

Alston ended the Aggies 14-4 run with a no-look pass to Coleman for a dunk and a 62-51 Aggies lead with 2:35 to play.

“Not playing in the first half was a little frustrating,’’ said Alston. “But I left I had the advantage because I didn’t play. I was just waiting for the opportunity to get out on the break.”

The Aggies improved to 8-1 at home and are now 14-13 overall after winning their sixth straight game. For the first time in 12 years, the Aggies are above .500 in late February. Coleman had 12 points and two blocks as he tied the school record for blocks in a season with 70. Fisher led the Rams with 25 points.

The Aggies return to action Monday night at 8 against S.C. State. The Aggies trail the Bulldogs by a half game in the standings.