AGGIES
LOSE ANOTHER CLOSE GAMEGREENSBORO, NC, January 14, 2006 – The Aggies lost yet another close conference game on Saturday as they exchanged the lead with Florida A&M 19 times and had 12 ties before falling 75-71 at Corbett Sports Center.
Jason Wills scored all 22 of his career-high point total in the second half. Three other Aggies scored in double figures, including Leslie Powell’s career-high 12 points.
“We get so very close every time,’’ said N.C. A&T men’s basketball coach Jerry Eaves. “Our kids are working hard. Those guys I have suiting up for me tonight play their hearts every game. I love putting them out there on the floor. We just need some breaks.”
Breaks don’t seem to favor the Aggies. Against S.C. State the Aggies missed 7 of 14 free throws down the stretch and lost by one in overtime. On Jan. 4, the Aggies led by seven late in the game before being whistled for three consecutive offensive fouls and losing by two in overtime.
On Monday they scored nine consecutive points to rally from a 10-point deficit against Delaware State before losing by four.
Against the Rattlers, the Aggies took a one-point lead, 67-66, with 3:41 to play thanks to a Wills 3-point play. Tony Tate gave the Rattlers the lead back with two free throws. After timeout, Tate stole the ball from Powell and scored on a layup to give FAMU a 70-67 lead.
Powell hit one of two free throws to pull the Aggies within two, 70-68 with 3:13 remaining. Wills struck again 15 seconds later by powering to the basket to tie the game at 70.
Rattlers forward Jonathan Kelly put the Rattlers back in front by working his way inside, and when Michael Sams scored off of an Aggies missed jumper, the Rattlers pushed their lead to four, 74-70, with 39 seconds remaining in the game.
Wills hit one of two free throws on the Aggies next possession to cut the lead to three and the Aggies chances started looking better when Kelly missed the front end of a one-and-one.
But Michael Hayes’ 3-point attempt came up short and the Aggies fell to 0-13 overall and 0-4 in the MEAC. The Rattlers improved to 7-9 and 3-2. Tate came off the bench to score 21 points and five assists on 7-for-11 shooting. Kelly added nine points and 13 rebounds.
The Aggies will try to get win No. 1 on Martin Luther King holiday Monday when they face Bethune-Cookman in a nationally televised game on ESPN2 at noon.