Jan. 24, 2008

Final Stats

It's always a fierce rivalry when Johnson C. Smith and Virginia Union University meet in men's basketball. Both teams have veteran coaches who have a combined 1,073 wins between them. Tonight, it was the old ball coach (Steve Joyner, Sr.) from JCSU that led his team to victory by a score of 61-47.

Similar to their female counterparts earlier, both JCSU and VUU went shot-for-shot for virtually the entire first half. Towards the latter part of the first stanza, Smith went on a small run that would give them the 30-22 advantage going into the locker room.

JCSU carried that momentum into the second half swelling the lead to as many as 16 points. Virginia Union, who the Bulls knew not to take lightly, cut the lead to 10 several times, but never into single digits. The Bulls were able to hold the Panthers to a season low 47 points.

Maurice Hooper (Reidsville, N.C.) hit back-to-back three-pointers to extend the lead to 14 points with 1:07 remaining in regulation. Both times Jerry Hollis (Charlotte, N.C.) fed Hooper the ball. At that point, the writing was on the wall and Smith prevailed to victory.

The Golden Bulls were led by Hollis who scored 14 points and fell two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight rebounds. Hooper had 11 points while dishing out four assists.

The difference maker in tonight's game was the long range shooting. JCSU shot 43% from beyond the arc while holding Virginia Union to 0%.

Brad Byerson once again led Virginia Union with 18 points and six rebounds. LaKeith Blanks was the only other Panther in double figures with 11 points.

Johnson C. Smith now improves to 11-6 overall, 5-4 CIAA while Virginia Union drops to 13-3, 8-2 in league play.

Johnson C. Smith will now try to avenge an earlier loss to the Bulldogs of Bowie State University on Saturday, Jan. 26. Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Brayboy Gymnasium.