RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 19) – Saint Augustine's University nearly erased a 20-point deficit with a furious rally in the final four minutes of a 63-57 CIAA men's basketball defeat to Winston-Salem State University at Emery Gymnasium on Saturday.

The Rams held what appeared to be a comfortable 58-38 lead with 4:32 remaining before the Falcons made their move. Tyre Gathright (Sr./Wilmington, NC) keyed a 15-0 run with 10 straight points including two free throws with 1:06 left to pull the Falcons within 58-53.

Although the Rams were held without a field goal in the final 4:32, they made 5 of 10 free throws in the final minute to hold off the Falcons in a Southern Division contest.

Gathright finished with 20 points for the Falcons, whose comeback was aided by 4 of 8 three-point shooting for 50 percent in the second half. Craig McDaniel (Sr./Holly Springs, NC) and Jalen Gaddy (Jr./Raleigh, NC) each added nine points and Hirk Williams (Jr./Manassas, VA) scored eight points.

Robert Colon scored 20 points and William Crandell contributed 14 points for the Rams, who stopped a four-game losing streak to the Falcons inside Emery Gymnasium. James Rucker II added eight points for the Rams.

Saturday's contest was similar to last season's matchup in Raleigh, N.C., when the Falcons came back from a 16-point second-half deficit for a 63-60 victory over the Rams on Feb. 7, 2018.

At first, it appeared Saturday's game would be close throughout as both teams entered halftime deadlocked 24-24. The Rams (2-0 Southern Division, 8-7 overall) caught fire in the second half, opening a 56-36 lead on the strength of 50 percent shooting. The visitors led by 20 again at 58-38 before the Falcons made the game interesting down the stretch.

The Falcons (0-3 Southern Division, 4-12 overall) conclude their seven-game home stretch against Johnson C. Smith University in another CIAA Southern Division game on Wednesday, Jan. 23. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. at Emery Gymnasium.