AGGIES SALVAGE SEASON SPLIT WITH WIN OVER B-CC

Aggies shoot 20-for-25 from the line

GREENSBORO, N.C., February 28, 2005 – You can call Monday night’s game an episode of “Coach Knows Best.” N.C. A&T head men’s basketball coach Jerry Eaves told his team if it hits free throws it can win.

On Saturday, they did not hit timely free throws in a double overtime loss to Florida A&M. On Monday, it did hit free throws and came away from Corbett Sports Center with a 63-60 win over Bethune-Cookman it what will likely be a preview of an MEAC Tournament play-in game next week.

Sean Booker led the Aggies with 23 points on 6-for-12 shooting, while Jason Wills posted his third straight double figure game with 10 points and six rebounds. Bethune-Cookman guard Antonio Webb, who had 35 points on 7-for-9 shooting from 3-point range in the first meeting with N.C. A&T, finished with 23 on 5-for-10 shooting from three.

“This is the kind of game we needed,’’ Eaves said. “We can tell our guys what it takes to win, but until they see it, until they experience it, the words don’t mean as much. Tonight, they saw if you hit your free throws and keep fighting through difficult situation you can win at this game.”

With 1:36 to play, Demetrius Guions was able to tie the game on a crucial play in the game.

Guions drove to the basket, scored as he bumped into Webb. With everyone waiting to see if it was going to be an offensive or blocking foul, the trailing official called a block on Webb.

“It looked like one referee was about to call a charge,’’ said Booker. “We’re used to calls like that not going our way, so it gave everyone a lift when a big play like that worked out for us.”

Guions hit the free throws to give the Aggies a 59-58 lead. Cleveland Williams gave the Wildcats the lead back with two free throws. Two Booker free throws gave the Aggies the lead back at 61-60 with 1:08 to play.

After a Wildcats turnover, the Aggies continued their hot free shooting, considering they came into Monday’s game shooting 60 percent from the line. Steven Koger nailed two more free throws to put the Aggies up 63-60.

Webb had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but his 3-pointer bounced off the back of the rim as the Aggies (6-22, 5-12) doubled their win total from last season.

Eaves expected his team to get off to a slow start after Saturday’s exhausting double overtime finish that saw opportunity after opportunity to win roll off the rim. The Aggies trailed 23-8 with eight minutes into the game after they turned the ball over 10 times in that same span.

The Aggies were able to get the lead under 10 at 31-24 on a Steven Koger 3-pointer with 4:46 remaining in the first half. 

“I think everyone was spent after Saturday’s game,’’ Eaves said. “I walked into the gym tonight and could tell the fans were still tired from Saturday. But I told my assistance when we went down 27-17 that we had weather the storm because they hit every shot to start the game.”

The Aggies cut the lead to one, 31-30 at the half. In the second half, there were 12 lead changes and 10 ties. Bethune-Cookman fell to 12-15 overall and 8-9 in the MEAC. The Wildcats are currently in eighth place, which would match them with the Aggies next week at the conference tournament.

Before the Aggies get there, they will face S.C. State at 4 p.m., on Saturday on Senior Day at Corbett Sports Center. The Aggies will honor seniors Steven Koger, Gregory Davis, Jeff Alvis, Frank Monkam and Rechodd Carter.