Dec. 15, 2007

Final Stats

Johnson C. Smith University hosted Elizabeth City State University in their final conference game of 2007. Similar to their female counterparts earlier, the men of Brayboy Gymnasium remain perfect at home improving their overall record to 5-3 overall, 2-1 in the CIAA. Elizabeth City State, on the other hand, remains perfect at home but winless on the road. The loss drops the Vikings to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the CIAA.

Anthony Butler connected on two quick long balls, forcing head coach Steve Joyner, Sr. to call a timeout. The brief talk didn't do much help the Bulls as the Vikings hit their next three shots to take an 11-4 lead. The remainder of the first half would be a see-saw with 12 lead changes and six tied scores. By the time it was all said and done, the score was 46-44 in favor of the Vikings going into the locker room.

The second half started similar to the first with the lead going back and forth until late the second stanza. JCSU pulled away late in the second half swelling the lead to as many as 14 points. The feisty Vikings would not go away easily as they closed the deficit to four several times, but that's as close as the score would get.

Five Golden Bulls scored in double figures led by Ryan Scott's (Reston, Va.) 20 points. Other Bulls with double-digit scoring were Maurice Hooper (Reidsville, N.C.) and Jerry Hollis (Charlotte, N.C.) with 18 and 17 points respectively. James Dillard and Edmund Rainey had 12 and 11 each. Hollis also had 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks in the victory.

The Vikings were led by Anthony Butler and Anthony Hilliard who combined for 47 of their team's 81 total points. Demond Hickman fell just one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

JCSU will be back in action on Monday, December 17, 2007 for their final contest of the 2007 when they host the Indians of Catawba College. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Brayboy Gymnasium.