Falcons Looking To Stretch Win Streak To Three Games
RALEIGH, NC (Dec 14) – Fresh off a CIAA opening win over Virginia State University, Saint Augustine's University will play its second game in three days when the Falcons take on Elizabeth City State University at the Vaughan Center on Thursday, Dec. 15 in Elizabeth City, N.C. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.
The Falcons (1-0 CIAA, 6-5 overall) are on a roll, having won two consecutive games and four of their last five contests. Defense has keyed their run as opponents have scored less than 70 points in four of their last five games. For the season, the Falcons are 6-1 when holding teams to under 70 points. They rank second in the CIAA in points allowed per game (68.2).
On Tuesday, the Falcons stymied defending CIAA champion Virginia State in an impressive 64-58 victory on the road in Ettrick, Va. Both the point total and shooting percentage (35.7) were the second lowest of the season for the Trojans.
Elizabeth City State (0-1 CIAA, 1-8 overall) is scoring a little over 73 points a contest but failed to reach its average in a 73-67 conference loss to Shaw University at home Tuesday. Teams have been able to score on the Vikings, who give up 81.7 points a game.
That is good news for the Falcons, who have two of the most prolific scorers in America. Guard Anthony Gaskins (Sr./Greenville, NC) ranks third in the CIAA in points per game (18.6) and first in three-pointers made (28). He scored 17 points against the Trojans on 6 of 10 shooting including 2 of 4 three-point attempts. Gaskins leads the nation in Division II in field goal attempts (204) and ranks 10th in field goals made (83).
Forward Quincy January (Jr./Atlanta, GA) is fifth in the conference in points per game (17.0) and third in the league in rebounding average (10.4). Against Virginia State, January was unstoppable in the second half, scoring 19 of his game-high 24 points in the final 20 minutes. He also pulled down eight of his 11 rebounds in the second half.
Last season's CIAA Defensive Player of the Year, January showed the Trojans why he ranks second in the nation in Division II in free throw attempts (97). The 6-foot-7 forward was 10 of 15 at the charity stripe including 9 of 11 in the second half. The high-rising forward also ranks 10th nationally in free throws made (61), 11th in the country in double-doubles (5) and third in Division II in total rebounds (114).
The Falcons also have capable scorers in guard Kenneth Collins (Jr./Clayton, NC) and swingman Chris Melton (So./Richmond, VA). Collins averages 12.1 points and ranks third in the conference in three-pointers made (24). Melton scored a season-high 14 points against the Trojans including 10 in the first half to help the Falcons tie the Trojans 23-23 in the opening stanza.
The Vikings have three players who average double figures in scoring. Guard Elon Edwards averages 12.8 points while guard-forward John Maynor and forward Jordan Jones average 11.1 and 11.0 points, respectively. Edwards scored 16 points and Maynor chipped in 11 points against Shaw as four Vikings scored in double figures.
