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Feb. 21, 2007
Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman College scored just enough points to overtake visiting Savannah State University on Wednesday night as both teams combined for 89 points in a 47-42 B-CC victory at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla. Bethune-Cookman (8-18) connected on eight free throws down the stretch of the final 1:42 of the ball game to ice the contest as Savannah State was forced to foul to try and extend the game. With the game tied at 28 with 8:44 left in the game, Jimmy Hudson hit the only three-pointer of the game for the Wildcats while John Anderson hit two big baskets to put the `Cats up 35-28 with just over four minutes left in the game. Savannah State (11-18) quickly answered back as Javon Randolph hit two foul shots and Lazarius Coleman hit a lay-up to bring the Tigers within striking distance at 37-35 with 2:17 left. Coming in averaging in double-digits combined, the slow down pace of B-CC caused problems for Tigers' leading scorers Joseph Flegler and Javon Randolph all night long. The two combined for just 15 points in the contest ... with each averaging just less than 15 points a piece, respectively. With the game sitting at a two-point margin, B-CC senior Ron Mitchell put back a thunderous dunk off a missed jumper that would turn the point of the game as far as momentum goes. That would be the last field goal for the Wildcats the rest of the way as free throws became big for the `Cats. B-CC came into the contest averaging just 61 percent from the foul line, but converted on 8-of-10 from the charity stripe in the final 1:42 of the contest. They would finish shooting just above their average with 63.6 percent (14x22) for the night. B-CC point guard Damitrius Coleman was instrumental for the `Cats down the stretch as he found open men for the better shooters to get to the line in the clutch.
With the game living out four lead changes and five ties, SSU grabbed a 22-21 second half lead when Patrick Hardy--saddled with foul trouble for most of the night, connected on two of his seven points in the contest when he sliced down the court for a fastbreak lay-up past the sleeping B-CC defense that had just scored courtesy a Damitrius Coleman jumper. The Tigers would grab their largest lead of the game moments later when Hardy connected on a long-range three-pointer to put SSU up 25-21. With the win, the Wildcats have now won two straight games for the second time in as many weeks after defeating MEAC opponent University of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday night. The series with Savannah State ends in a draw this season as both teams collected victories on their home court. Joshua Obiajunwa finished as the high-man for the Horace Broadnax coached Tigers of SSU with 11 points and six rebounds. Javon Randolph grabbed 10 points as Lazarius Coleman finished with nine points and a team-high tying six rebounds. The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman were paced by Dewayne Pettus for the second straight game as he collected nine points. John Anderson and Ron Mitchell each finished with eight points while Mitchell also grabbed a team-high eight boards. This is just the second game all season that the `Cats failed to get a student-athlete into the double-digit column in scoring. The next contest for the `Cats won't be until Monday night when they travel to Delaware State University to do battle with the Hornets in an ESPNU televised contest beginning at 7 p.m. in Dover, Del. The Hornets defeated the `Cats earlier this season in Daytona Beach by a count of 62-46. |
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