AGGIES FALL SHORT IN HAWAII

Box Score
HONOLULU, HAWAII, December 27, 2005 – After losing two of its top offensive threats in early December, the N.C. A&T men’s basketball team may have found its new staple for the 2005-2006 season – defense.

 The Aggies showed their defensive toughness again on Tuesday as they held the University of Hawaii to 39 percent shooting as the Rainbows avoided an upset bid by the Aggies, 66-60 at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jason Wills led the way with 17 points and six rebounds, while Trahern Chaplin set career highs in points and rebounds with 13 and 9 respectively.

 The win almost gave the Aggies their biggest win over a school from a major conference since beating the Big 12’s Texas A&M in 1999. The Aggies were coming off of a Southern California loss in which they held the Trojans to 39 percent shooting in the first half.

 “We’ve got to realize we don’t have the same team, we had at the beginning of the year,’’ said N.C. A&T coach Jerry Eaves. “I’m proud of the way these guys have fought on the defensive end. We’re going to win games on the defensive end when the conference starts. That’s what we’re looking forward to, how these guys compete when the conference starts.”

 The Aggies hit 40 3-pointes over their first five games. In their last four, they have hit just 16 after losing two of their top shooters over those first five. Teams, however, are shooting just 43 percent against the Aggies over the last four games.  

On Tuesday, the Aggies forced the Rainbows into missing four of their first five shots and three turnovers. The Aggies jumped out to a 7-3 lead before the 'Bows answered back. N.C. A&T led for much of the first half until a Matthew Gipson free throw tied the game at 18. The Aggies regained the lead and held on until just before the half when Julian Sensley's trey tied the game at 27.

Ahmet Gueye gave the 'Bows the quick lead at 29-27 to start the second half but the Aggies responded with a Chaplin three that gave the Aggies lead back. A Sensley lay-up gave UH the lead back at 36-35, and the 'Bows increased their lead to 47-40 lead after Sensley’s jumper and breakaway dunk with under 10 minutes to play.

Matt Lojeski trey with 7:40 left put UH on top 52-42 and Sensley's second 3-pointer gave the 'Bows a 13-point advantage with four minutes left. The Aggies closed to within 60-54 on a Greg Roberts 3-point play with a minute remaining and closed to four twice but each time Lojeski answered with a pair of free throws.

The Aggies finish out their 13-day road trip with a game against the University of Cincinnati on Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. The Aggies will turn to their MEAC schedule on Jan. 4 when they face Maryland-Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md. The Aggies return home on Jan. 14 against Florida A&M at 4 p.m.