Box Score
GREENSBORO, November 19, 2008 – Junior point guard Tavarus Alston waited patiently to get his license so he could steer the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team. Not only has head coach Jerry Eaves given him that license, he has given him permission to speed.

Alston used his coach’s directive to score 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting to lead the Aggies to an 83-54 win over Talladega College Wednesday night at Corbett Sports Center. Alston also added four assists to his totals and has 17 assists over his first three games. Nic Wilson and Ed Jones added 14 points apiece for the Aggies.

“I want Tavarus to push the basketball,’’ said Eaves. “People don’t know this because he really hasn’t shown it yet, but he is lightning quick with the ball in his hands. I want him pushing that basketball just like Ty Lawson at North Carolina. I thought he played well tonight, but I want to see him be even faster.”

Alston is off to a fast start this season after being an understudy over the first two years of his career. The Greensboro Smith graduate averaged just 7.4 minutes per game in that span while playing behind Austin Ewing. This season he has gotten off to an explosive start, shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range.

“I’m getting used to all the new playing time,’’ said Alston, who played 24 minutes on Saturday. “I’ve learned from the mistakes I made as a freshman and sophomore. Those two years have helped me take on this new role.”

Even with the increase in minutes for Alston, his workload is not overbearing. Eaves doesn’t foresee that workload increasing as the season progresses because of his depth. Backup point guards Marc Hill and Nic Simpson played 10 and nine minutes respectively. In fact, Eaves played 13 players on Wednesday, and that is not because it was a blowout win.

“I’m going to play everybody,’’ said Eaves. “That is my strength – my numbers. “By mid-January, when teams come in here, they’re going to see 13 people coming at them pushing the ball, attacking the basket, pressuring the basketball and drawing charges. I think we can be successful on most nights if it’s my 13-man rotation against your 8-man rotation.”

The Aggies rotation struggled at times on Wednesday against the Tornadoes two seven footers. Seven-foot one Jerel Davis, who had 17 points and three blocks, altered the Aggies offensive attack in the paint in the first half.

The Aggies shot just 36.1 percent in the first half, and the Tornadoes out-rebounded the Aggies 22-20 in the first 20 minutes. A Tory Guillory layup pulled the Tornadoes to within eight, 33-25 with two minutes remaining in the first half. A Jones free throw followed by two Alston free throws gave the Aggies a 36-25 lead at the half.

Tarium Taylor opened the second half for the Tornadoes with a three that cut the lead back to eight. The Aggies took over from there. Alston hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 17-5 Aggies run to give N.C. A&T a 53-33 lead with 12 minutes remaining. The Aggies would lead by as many as 30 in the second half, out-rebounded the Tornadoes 26-8, and shot 66.7 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes. 

“This team really fits me,’’ said Alston. “Everybody on this team can really get up and down the floor, so it’s easy to push the ball and make things happen. On any given night there are several guys on this team that can get you 20.”

The Aggies head to the west coast for four games. The trip starts in Las Vegas when the Aggies take on the Running Rebels of UNLV on Saturday at 10 p.m., eastern. The Aggies then head to Berkley, Calif., to take on the Cal Bears Monday night at 10:30. Four days later, they play in Las Vegas again in the Global Sports Classic with Western Illinois, Coastal Carolina and Texas Pan-American.