Late Run Hurts Falcons In Men's Basketball Loss To Johnson C. Smith

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – Guard Anthony Gaskins (Jr./Greenville, NC) scored 20 points and forward Quincy January (Soph./Atlanta, GA) added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Saint Augustine's University, but the Falcons lost 81-68 to Johnson C. Smith University in a key CIAA men's basketball contest at Emery Gymnasium on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016.

The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Falcons, who entered the contest in a three-way tie for first place in the Southern Division with Johnson C. Smith and Winston-Salem State University. The Falcons (4-3 Southern Division, 9-14 overall) are now tied for second place with Winston-Salem State and Shaw University with three games left in the regular season. Johnson C. Smith (5-2 Southern Division, 12-10 overall) is all alone in first place in the division.

The Golden Bulls clinched the victory with a 31-17 run in the final 10:45 after Jeremy Saunders (Jr./Hampton, VA) hit a free throw for a 52-50 Falcons' lead. The visitors shot 53.3 percent in the second half while the Falcons made 34.3 percent of their shots.

Leading 59-58, the Golden Bulls scored 12 consecutive points to open a 13-point lead at 71-58 with 5:15 remaining. The Falcons managed to pull within seven points at 73-66 with 3:23 left on a layup by Nick Moyer (Sr./Martinsville, VA), but they would get no closer.

The reserves kept the Falcons in the game until late in the second half. Saunders pumped in 13 points on 4-for-8 three-point shooting and Marquis Hines (Sr./Fayetteville, NC) chipped in 10 points as the Falcons outscored the Golden Bulls in bench points 33-12.

The Golden Bulls hurt the Falcons at the free throw line, making 18 of 21 attempts for 85.7 percent at the charity stripe. The Falcons were 10-for-18 for 55.6 percent.

Stedmon Lemon scored 21 points to lead four double-figure scorers for the Golden Bulls. Alandre Davis added 19 points, Diondre Pratt scored 15 points and Johsua Linson contributed 12 points. The foursome helped the Golden Bulls outscored the Falcons 48-35 in the second half after the score was tied 33-33 at halftime.

The Golden Bulls shot 46.7 percent for the contest. The Falcons shot 36.8 percent after shooting 44 percent or higher in their previous five games.

The Falcons are back in action Saturday, Feb. 13, when they visit Shaw University in a rematch of crosstown rivals. The contest will be held at Spaulding Gymnasium in Raleigh, N.C., at 4 p.m. The Falcons won the first meeting 71-67 at home on Feb. 1.

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