Box Score RALEIGH, N.C. - Guards Anthony Gaskins (So./Greenville, NC) and Raheem Jolliffe (Sr./Fayetteville, NC) both scored 15 points as Saint Augustine's University topped Virginia Union University for its first CIAA men's basketball victory of the season on the Harvey D. Heartley, Sr. Court at Emery Gymnasium on Monday, January 12, 2015.
The Falcons upped their record to 1-4 in the CIAA and 7-8 overall. The Panthers dropped to 0-6 in the CIAA and 4-12 overall.
It was the first CIAA win for First-Year Falcons' Head Coach MarQus Johnson. Last season, Johnson was an assistant coach at Saint Augustine's University to Tony Sheals, who is now the Virginia Union Head Coach.
Guard Keith Crawford (Jr./Richmond, VA) added 13 points and forward Marquis Hines (Jr./Fayetteville, NC) scored 12 points and added three blocks for the Falcons. Forward Quincy January (Fr./Atlanta, GA) chipped in 11 points.
Gaskins and Jolliffe sealed the win at the free throw line. They combined to make 6 of 8 free throws down the stretch including 5 of 6 for Gaskins after the Panthers cut an 11-point deficit to three at 66-63 with 1:11 left. The Falcons led 64-53 with 3:48 remaining.
The backcourt duo sparked the Falcons to a decisive edge at the charity stripe. The Falcons swished 19 of 25 free throw attempts for 76 percent. The Panthers connected on only 12 of 29 free throw attempts for 41.4 percent.
The free throws helped the Falcons overcome 42.6 percent field goal shooting. The Panthers were slightly better from the floor, making 46.2 percent of their shots.
The Falcons also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Panthers 43-27. Their aggressiveness on the boards led to an 18-6 advantage in second-chance points. Both January and Gaskins grabbed nine rebounds for the Falcons, who outrebounded an opponent for the second time in the last five games.
Ray Anderson scored a game-high 23 points on 10 of 18 shooting for the Panthers, but the Falcons bottled up his teammates. Other than Anderson and Franky Johnson (11 points/3 of 6 three-point shooting), no other Panther was effective against the Falcons. Robert Valentine added 11 points on 3 of 7 shooting.
The Falcons gained momentum late in the first half after the lead changed several times. They led 34-30 at halftime after a 12-7 run ended the half.
The Falcons were ahead 50-41 in the second half on a layup by forward Julius Murphy (Fr./Goldsboro, NC), but the Panthers pulled within 53-51 with a little less than eight minutes remaining. The Falcons stretched the margin to 64-53 after an 11-2 run, but the Panthers made one last charge before Gaskins and Jolliffe iced the game for the home team.
After playing three home games in five days, the Falcons venture to Winston-Salem, N.C., for a CIAA divisional contest against Winston-Salem State University at the Gaines Center on Saturday, January 17, at 4 p.m. This is the first league division game for the Falcons.
