SMALL THINGS HURT AGGIES IN LOSS TO CAMPBELL

Box Score

Two Aggies record double-doubles

BUIES CREEK, NC, December 14, 2005 – The N.C. A&T men’s basketball team received some bad news, some more bad news and some good news on Wednesday.

 The first bit of bad news the Aggies received was the potential loss of starting point guard and sharpshooter Austin Ewing for the season. Secondly, the Aggies were defeated by Campbell 93-72 at Carter Gym.

 Now, for the good news received by the Aggies. With the Holidays approaching, coach Jerry Eaves will have more time to work with his team, remove some kinks and prepare them for 2006 and the MEAC schedule.

 “We’re going to get our guys in the gym and work on the things we can work on,’’ Eaves said. “We’re going to shoot the ball, we’re going to define roles and we’re to come away ready to win our conference.”

 The task of winning the conference would be made easier if Ewing is able to return. He did not play Wednesday because of a separated shoulder that has been bothering him all season, and which was re-injured against Virginia Tech on Dec. 7. He leads the team with 16 3-pointers made.

With Dejuan Morrison out for the season for personal reasons, the Aggies are without their top two point guards. In the meantime, senior Leslie Powell and freshman Christopher Faison will handle the duties.

 Without Ewing, the Aggies second-leading scorer, the scoring responsibilities fall on Demetrius Guions and Jason Wills. Guions had his second straight 20-point night with 20 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Wills finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

 Greg Roberts also finished in double figures with 12 and his basket at the 13:54 mark of the first half pulled the Aggies to within one, 10-9. The Camels then pulled away with 3-point shooting. Eric Smith, who leads the nation in 3-pointers per game, started it off with a three with 13:40 to play in the first half.

 Two more 3’s by Ledell Eackles and Ruell Pringle pushed the Camels lead to nine at 19-10. After the Camels extended their lead to 11 at 25-14, the Aggies scored the next five points to move to within six. It would be as close as they would get the rest of the night. The Camels went on a 14-2 run capped off by a Smith jumper with 3:45 remaining in the first half.

 Smith led five Camels in double figures with 23 points. Maurice Latham had 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Diego Aguiar finished with 14 points and 12 boards.

 “We have to do the little things,’’ said Eaves. “If we missed (five front ends of 1-and-1 free throws), we were out-rebounded and were 14 of 32 from the free throw line. If we do a better job at the line we’re within striking distance at the end and we can make up the difference with threes. But when you don’t do the little things, you can’t win.”

 The Aggies begin a four-game, 11-day road trip that starts in Lincoln, Neb., on Dec. 19 against the Cornhuskers; heads to Los Angeles, Calif., to play Southern California on Dec. 23; then moves on to Hawaii on Dec. 27;  before ending with the Cincinnati Bearcats on Dec. 30 in Ohio.