Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Saint Augustine's University mounted a furious rally down the stretch, but the Falcons fell to Chowan University 65-60 in the second round of the CIAA Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday, February 25, 2015.
The loss ended the season for the Falcons, who finished 12-16 overall. The No. 5 seed in the Southern Division, the Falcons defeated Elizabeth City State University on Tuesday and were seconds away from reaching the quarterfinal round.
Down 55-46 with just under eight minutes remaining, the Falcons came back behind the scoring of Raheem Jolliffe (Sr./Fayetteville, NC). The All-CIAA guard scored the last six points during a 14-4 run, including a three-pointer which pulled the Falcons within 60-59 with 2:36 left. But the Falcons missed five three-point shots in the last 2:08 that would have either tied the score or gave them the lead. Their last miss occurred with 10 seconds remaining and the Hawks nursing a three-point lead. The Hawks iced the contest with two free throws with six seconds left.Despite the loss, Falcons' Head Coach MarQus Johnson was proud of his team "They fought hard," Johnson said. "We just came up on the short end of the stick."
Guard Anthony Gaskins (So./Greenville, NC) finished 17 points and five assists for the Falcons. Jolliffe added 15 points and forward Quincy January (Fr./Atlanta, GA), the CIAA Rookie of the Year, added 13 points and nine rebounds. Forward Tayron Gibson (Sr./Alexandria, VA) had seven points and six rebounds, and guard John Koger (Greensboro, NC) grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds.Carlos Arroyo scored 18 points and Kyree Bethel added 15 points for Chowan, which faces Northern Division Co-Champion Bowie State University in the quarterfinal round on Thursday, February 26 at 3 p.m. Mark Anthony Buright chipped in 14 points for the Hawks (15-12 overall), who are the No. 4 Northern Division seed. After leading 35-32 at halftime, the Falcons went up 43-39 in the second half but Chowan suddenly gained its shooting touch. The Hawks drained three consecutive three-pointers during an 11-0 run to move ahead 50-43. Marquis Hines (Jr./Fayetteville, NC) of the Falcons stopped the run with a free throw. The Falcons never led again, but made it interesting late in the contest.
"I tell my guys all the time, it is a game of runs," Johnson said.
The contest was the last in a Falcons' uniform for seniors Gibson, Koger, Jolliffe and Ronald Owens (Brandywine, MD). The Falcons return 10 players including Gaskins and January. "We were fairly young," Johnson said. "I am proud of them. It was a long season, but our guys did what they were supposed to do."
