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At the tip of our fingers

Men’s basketball team lets one slip away against MEAC front runner 67-64

Published: Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Updated: Wednesday, February 2, 2011 15:02

With 23 seconds left in the second half, a roaring crowd and down 66-64 to the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats.

The N.C. Central University Men's basketball team looked poised to knock off  the MEAC front-runner.

Unfortunately for Eagle fans, the victory was not sealed and the team fell 67-64.

Coming out of their final timeout the Eagles got the ball in the hot hands of senior guard C.J. Wilkerson who was 6-12 from the field.        Wilkerson drove toward the basket, got bumped by a defender in what looked to be a foul, and lost the basketball.

 "It was a ball screen for C.J." said head coach LeVelle Moton. "We knew they were going to double- team it and when they did, C.J., got nudged and lost it. But he has to be stronger with the basketball and he knows that."

    In a closely contested match-up which went through several spurts and  multiple lead changes and saw an early 12-point lead by the Eagles reduced within 5 minutes.

 The teams seemed well-matched in talent and each individual player gridlocked in an intense completion with his counterpart.

"They (Bethune-Cookman) made significant plays at significant times. They made their layups and we didn't," said Moton.

Nick Chasten, the team's leading rebounder, was forced to sit on the bench because of early foul trouble, limiting his minutes.         As a result, the Wildcats out-rebounded the Eagles 35-30, getting big rebounds at big times.

 The biggest and most crucial rebound was an offensive one by the Wildcats with 32 seconds left after a missed three-pointer.

That led to a foul by the Eagles, which put Bethune guard C.J. Reed on the line. Reed made his first attempt but clanked his second one before the Eagles' turnover, putting the Wildcats up by two points.

The turnover capped the victory for the Wildcats, snapping a three-game winning streak by the Eagles.

 "They wanted it more and that just can't happen," said Moton. "We just got to go back and regroup and thank God for another blessing."

The Eagles hope to get back on track with their upcoming road trip against Howard University and High Point University.  

"It's going to be a dog fight," said Moton.

"Every game in the MEAC is going to be a dog fight coming down to one or two possessions."  

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