AGGIES DROP HOME OPENERMorrison scores career-high 19
GREENSBORO, N.C., November 30, 2005 – What made the difference in Radford’s 83-76 win over N.C. A&T in the Aggies home opener on Wednesday appeared obvious. The Aggies couldn’t quite find the right guy to go to when they needed a big basket, and the Highlanders did.
Despite Dejuan Morrison putting together his best night as an Aggie with a career-high 19 points, including a career-best five 3-pointers, Radford guard Whit Holcomb-Faye seemed to always have the answer at the right moment to deny the Aggies their second consecutive home opening win.
Holcomb-Faye scored 34 points on 9-for-19 shooting from the field and he knocked down 14 of his 15 free throw attempts. With 6:41 remaining in the game and with the Aggies gaining momentum after rallying from a nine-point second-half deficit to take a 65-62 lead on a Morrison 3-pointer, Holcomb-Faye quieted the 5,243 fans in Corbett Sports Center with a 3-pointer from the corner.
Aggies freshman point guard Christopher Faison put the Aggies in front again with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 5:58 remaining. But Duane Ricks’ short jumper 40 seconds later gave the Highlanders a 69-68 lead as the Highlanders never trailed again.
In fact, two Triad natives made sure the Aggies (0-3) never reclaimed the lead. With the Aggies trailing 75-72 with 1:02 remaining, Holcomb-Faye, Winston-Salem native, hit a crucial runner to push the Highlanders lead to five.
A Demetrius Guions dunk pulled the Aggies to within three again. But this time Kernersville native Chris Oliver knocked a jump shot with 48 seconds remaining to push the Highlanders lead to 79- 76. Oliver finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.
The Aggies placed three other players in double figures along with Morrison as Guions finished with 16 points, Jason Wills had 14 points and seven boards and Greg Roberts added 12 points and eight rebounds.
“We need to find difference makers,’’ said N.C. A&T head men’s basketball coach Jerry Eaves. “Someone has to step up and take the responsibility of being the guy who can make a difference in a ball game. We had the crowd support tonight, we just didn’t take advantage of some opportunities to put the game away.”
The Aggies host S.C. State on Saturday at 4 p.m., inside Corbett Sports Center. It will be the Aggies conference opener.