RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 8) – Aaron Johnson-Cash (So./San Francisco, CA) and Karaan Clemonts (Jr./Weldon, NC) both scored 12 points as Saint Augustine's University held off Winston-Salem State University 69-68 Saturday to snap the Rams' seven-game men's basketball winning streak at Emery Gymnasium on Senior Day.
Jalen Gaddy (Sr./Raleigh, NC) added 11 points, including a free throw with five seconds remaining for the one-point lead. The Falcons prevailed after a Rams' three-pointer above the top of the key hit the front rim as time expired.
SAU held a 67-56 lead with 1:26 remaining on Clemonts' free throw. The Rams rallied to tie the score at 68-68 with 13 seconds left on a layup before Gaddy's free throw.
Donte Edwards (So./Durham, NC) registered 10 points and Hirk Williams (Sr./Manassas, VA) and Geordan Walker (Jr./Durham, NC) each had seven points for the Falcons, who were in control much of the game. The Falcons opened a 44-29 halftime lead and led by as many as 18 points in the second half.
Although the lead nearly slipped away, the Falcons held on for an impressive victory against the Southern Division leaders. The Rams were playing the best basketball of any CIAA team entering the contest. But the Falcons are 7-3 against the Rams in their last 10 meetings at Emery Gymnasium.
The Falcons outscored the Rams 22-14 in points in the paint and 36-25 in bench points. SAU shot 47.2 percent from the floor, including 47.6 percent from three-point land. The Rams made 40.9 percent of their three-pointers but were limited to 32.7 percent shooting overall by the Falcons.
Free throws prevented the Falcons (4-10 CIAA, 9-15 overall) from clinching the game earlier. They were 47.4 percent from the charity stripe while the Rams connected on 82.1 percent of their free throws. But Gaddy hit the crucial free throw that gave SAU the victory.
SAU tied the season series 1-1 with the victory over WSSU (10-3 CIAA, 13-9 overall). The Falcons lost to the Rams in Winston-Salem, N.C., in December 2019.
Before the contest, a ceremony was held for 12 seniors, including men's basketball players Gaddy, Williams and Otis Hill, Jr. (Shallotte, NC). They received framed action photos and commemorative jerseys at midcourt. The other nine seniors were women's basketball players Quiera Gilmore, Kiana Clark, Kamya Renwicks, Nia Moore, Angela Caraballo, Shankia Clark, Tanisha Wall and Kaaliya Williams and Blue Chips cheerleader Nyshanti Greene.
The victory against the Rams was the season's final home game for the Falcons, who visit Johnson C. Smith University on Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the first of four consecutive away games before the CIAA Tournament. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.
The Falcons wrapped up their home schedule with a 7-6 record.
