RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 4) – Tyre Gathright (Sr./Wilmington, NC) scored 25 points and Donte Edwards (Fr./Durham, NC) added a career-high 24 points off the bench to lead Saint Augustine's University past Chowan University 83-79 in a CIAA men's basketball cross divisional game at the Helms Center in Murfreesboro, N.C., on Monday night.
The Falcons improved to 4-9 in the CIAA and 7-14 overall while the Hawks dropped to 5-7 in the CIAA and 12-8 overall. The victory was the Falcons' fourth straight over the Hawks in a two-year span.
Gathright was two points off his season high as he scored 20 or more points for the sixth time in eight games. The Preseason All-CIAA guard is averaging 21.6 points during the eight-game span.
Although Gathright led the Falcons in scoring for the sixth straight game, the story of the night was Edwards, the 5-foot-8 first-year guard who averages 6.4 points. Edwards had previously scored in double figures once this season, but the Falcons' guard was unstoppable against the Hawks.
Edwards buried 7 of 10 shots including 5 of 7 from three-point range for the Falcons, who lead the CIAA in three-point shooting. He contributed three rebounds, one steal and four assists with zero turnovers while sparking the Falcons to a 44-10 advantage in bench points.
The freshman guard led a Falcons' surge in the second half. He scored 19 points to spark the Falcons, who outscored the Hawks 52-42 in the final 20 minutes to erase a 37-31 halftime deficit. The 52 points are the second highest in the second half for the Falcons this season.
Edwards' three-pointer midway in the half gave the Falcons their biggest lead at 60-48. It capped a 15-2 run by the Falcons.
The Hawks climbed back in the game with a run of their own, but Edwards swished another three for a 75-68 lead. Gathright, who scored 14 second-half points, made a jumper for a six-point lead with 49 seconds remaining.
Still, the Hawks would not go away. They pulled within 78-77 on a three-pointer with 17.8 seconds left, but Hirk Williams (Jr./Manassas, VA) hit four straight free throws and D.J. Harrison (Sr./Winston-Salem, NC) added a free throw to secure the win. The Falcons' defense forced two turnovers during that stretch including a turnover when the Hawks were down three with a chance to tie the game.
Williams had 11 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Jalen Gaddy (Jr./Raleigh, NC) added seven points and seven rebounds, and Rashad George (R-So./Raleigh, NC) chipped in seven points. Mel'Quan Ames collected six points, four rebounds and two blocks for the Falcons, who outrebounded the Hawks 32-28. The Falcons are 6-2 when they outrebound their opponent this season.
Gus Rowland led four Hawks in double figures with 23 points. Michael Kelly added 17 points and Demetrius Sanders and Timothy Bing each added 12 points.
The Falcons shot 45.8 percent from the floor and 71.4 percent from the free throw line. The Hawks were 42.6 percent from the floor and 72 percent from the charity stripe.
The contest was originally scheduled on Dec. 11, 2018, but was postponed due to inclement weather in Raleigh, N.C., where Saint Augustine's University is located.
The Falcons return to Southern Division action on Thursday, Feb. 7, when they face Johnson C. Smith University on the road. Both teams will meet at Brayboy Gymnasium in Charlotte, N.C., at 7:30 p.m.
