Men's Basketball Team Loses 59-58 Heartbreaker To Chowan

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – Anthony Gaskins (Jr./Greenville, NC) and Quincy January (So./Atlanta, GA) both scored 19 points, but Saint Augustine's University lost a 59-58 nail-biter to Chowan University after leading most of the second half in a CIAA men's basketball game at Emery Gymnasium on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016.

Both Gaskins and January scored 11 points each in the second half for the Falcons, who erased a two-point halftime deficit to lead 34-33 five minutes into the second half. The Falcons stayed ahead until the 1:09 mark when Kortez Smith hit a floater to put Chowan in front 59-58.

After both teams exchanged possessions, the Falcons called timeout with 11 seconds remaining. After the timeout, the Falcons attempted the potential game-winning shot near the free throw line, but the ball fell short of the rim. Both teams scrambled for the loose ball as time expired.

As expected, the contest was a low-scoring slugfest between the top two defensive teams in the CIAA. The Hawks (13-3 overall, 6-0 CIAA) were first and the Falcons were second in points allowed per game entering the contest.

The Falcons allowed the Hawks to shoot 50 percent in the first half as they fell behind 29-27 at halftime. The defensive effort was stellar in the second half for the Falcons, who held the Hawks to 38.5 percent shooting as they seized control. They led 58-52 on a three-pointer by Keith Crawford (Sr./Richmond, VA) with 3:44 left, but Smith scored the last seven points, including the game-winner, for the Hawks.

The Falcons were undone by 52.2 percent free throw shooting in a contest which featured 10 ties and 13 lead changes. They made 8 of 15 free throw attempts for 53.3 percent in the second half which prevented them from maintaining their lead. Their woes at the charity stripe offset their defense, which turned 13 Chowan turnovers into 18 points. Led by Gaskins, the Falcons outscored the Hawks 24-12 in bench points.

Marquis Hines (Sr./Fayetteville, NC) added nine points for the Falcons, who shot 37.7 percent for the game, but committed only six turnovers. Smith scored 17 points and Joe Goodwin added 14 points for the Hawks, who defeated the Falcons for the second time this season.

The Falcons (5-11 overall, 0-6 CIAA) return to the hardwood on Saturday, Jan. 16, against Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, N.C. The contest begins at 4 p.m. at the Gaines Center. This is the Southern Division opener for the Falcons.

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