CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Saint Augustine's University played outstanding defense in a CIAA Tournament men's first-round victory on Tuesday, February 24, 2015.
Guard Anthony Gaskins (So./Greenville, NC) scored 14 points as the Falcons held Elizabeth City State University to 31 percent shooting in a 61-54 win at Time Warner Cable Arena. They will play Chowan University, the No. 4 Northern Division seed, in a second-round game on Wednesday, February 25, at 6:40 p.m. The shooting percentage was the second lowest by an opponent against the Falcons this season. The 54 points are the second fewest for a Falcons' opponent.
It all added up to a victory for the Falcons, who entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed in the Southern Division. First-Year Head Coach MarQus Johnson also gained his first CIAA tourney victory in his first game. "It feels a little surreal right now," said Johnson, who has been in the CIAA for 20 years as a student-athlete and coach. "It is a testament to the team. I am certainly proud of them."
Johnson was an assistant on the 2009-10 Falcons' squad which won the CIAA title with the No. 1 field-goal percentage defense in Division II. He preached to his players that defense and rebounding matter in the postseason and his players listened.
"I tell my guys all the time, you have to defend," Johnson said. "That is the only way you are going to win championships."
The Vikings, the No. 6 Northern Division seed, struggled to score against the Falcons (12-15 overall). They shot 23 percent in the second half.
The Falcons, the No. 5 Southern Division seed, needed tough defense on a night when they shot 31 percent overall. But they scored enough to stay ahead of the Vikings after trailing 7-0 early.
Gaskins led a balanced scoring attack. Guard Raheem Jolliffe (Sr./Fayetteville, NC) scored 11 points and forward Marquis Hines (Jr./Fayetteville, NC) had a career night with 11 points and 10 rebounds, his first double double in a Falcons' uniform. Hines was named Food Lion MVP for his performance. "It feels good," Hines said. "My teammates really encourged me. I just want to help my brothers. With all the adversity we had and people doubting us, I feel like we have something to prove."
Guard Keith Crawford (Redshirt Jr./Richmond, VA) contributed 10 points, six rebounds and five assists, and forward Quincy January (Fr./Atlanta, GA) had seven points, nine rebounds and three steals. Gaskins canned two huge back-to-back threes to hold off the Vikings, who closed within 45-42 with seven minutes remaining. His first three was well beyond the top of the key with the shot clock running down. On his second three, Gaskins was knocked down as he released the shot.
"Anthony has been doing that for us all year," Johnson said. "He has unlimited range. We have faith in him to knock those shots down. I don't like them to be so late on the shot clock, but Anthony has confidence to take the shots."
After Gaskins pushed the lead to 51-42 with his two three-pointers, the Vikings (9-21 overall) got within 59-54 with 15 seconds left. Gaskins sealed the win with two free throws.
Darrell Ward had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Vikings. John Tatum added 11 points.
The Vikings actually outshot the Falcons 38 percent to 35 percent in the first half. After a slow start, the Falcons eventually set the tone for the rest of the contest with their defense. They outrebounded the Vikings 43-37 and committed fewer turnovers (11-16) overall.
Leading 29-25 at halftime, the Falcons expanded the margin to 36-26 early in the second half. The Vikings managed to get within 36-35 after a 9-0 run, but the Falcons stayed in front the entire second half. They never allowed the Vikings to go on a long scoring run.
