FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - After a slow start to the season, the Saint Augustine's University men have a shot at the Southern Division crown when the Falcons visit Fayetteville State University as part of a CIAA basketball doubleheader at Capel Arena on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. The women's game begins at 2 p.m. followed by the men's contest at 4 p.m.
Tickets for the doubleheader are $12 for general admission and $10 for senior citizens and military personnel with identification. The cost is $6 for visiting students and children. The live stats link for the men's game is - http://www.theciaa.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/boxscores/20160220_1olw.xml.
The Falcons and Johnson C. Smith are the Southern Division co-leaders at 6-3 with one game remaining in the regular season. A victory over the Broncos and a Smith loss to Shaw University on Saturday would give the Falcons their first division title since the 2009-10 season when they captured the CIAA championship.
If both the Falcons and Johnson C. Smith win, the Golden Bulls would capture the crown by virtue of winning the two regular-season meetings between both teams. The Falcons would still tie for the best division record which is quite an achievement considering they were picked fourth in the division in the preseason.
After a stretch of nine straight losses, the Falcons (11-14) have regrouped to win six of their last seven contests including two straight victories. Leading the way is the one-two punch of Preseason All-CIAA picks Quincy January (So./Atlanta, GA) and Anthony Gaskins (Jr./Greenville, NC).
January leads the Falcons with 16.1 points per game and a CIAA-leading 9.8 rebounds per game on 56.9 percent shooting. The Falcons' high-leaping forward, known for his powerful dunks, ranks seventh nationally in Division II in double-doubles (14), seventh in free throw attempts (211) and ninth in offensive rebounds per game (3.64).
Gaskins has been Mr. Clutch for the Falcons. He has scored two game-winning three-pointers as time expired in the last four contests. The sharpshooting guard ranks fourth in the CIAA in three-pointers made (56).
The Falcons are also getting key contributions from senior guards Keith Crawford (Richmond, VA) and Nick Tennell (Port St. Lucie, FL), and senior forwards Marquis Hines (Fayetteville, NC) and Nick Moyer (Martinsville, VA).
The Broncos (3-6 Southern Division, 11-14 overall) will attempt to derail the Falcons, who won the first meeting 65-58 in Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 30. They are sparked by Preseason All-CIAA guard Joshua Dawson, who leads the nation in Division II in total assists (193) and assists per game (8.0).
The Broncos like to get to the free throw line. They rank 11th nationally in free throw attempts (702), but the Falcons have the second-best defense in the CIAA, allowing 70.5 points per game.
This is the final contest of the regular season for both teams. The CIAA Tournament will be held Tuesday, Feb. 23 through Saturday, Feb. 27, at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.
