The Rams 11-3 (5-2) had advantages in all of the hustle areas of the game. They had more points off turnovers, and 15 more second chance points. However, these advantages were not enough, as the Rams fell short 93-83 to St. Paul’s College 4-8 (1-5) for the second time this season.
This loss counts toward conference standings. The first meeting was a non-conference matchup.
The Rams struggled early on, falling behind 15-4 in the first four and a half minutes of the game. During that time, the Rams were two-for-five from the field and saw St. Paul’s take control of the game early.
“We didn’t match their intensity,” said Head Coach Bobby Collins.
“They [St. Paul’s] came out and played they way that they play.”
The first half for the Rams was one filled with more ups and downs than a roller coaster.
The Rams saw themselves getting outplayed and trailing by as much as 12 points but eventually taking a lead. They traded the lead three more times before halftime, where they trailed 40-35.
At the start of the second half, the Rams missed three of their first four shots, as they tried to find an offensive rhythm. When the Rams defense came close to forcing turnovers, they couldn’t capitalize and gave up a lot of easy baskets.
“We gave up too many close shots, and you won’t win too many games that way,” Collins said.
The Rams struggled to keep Maurice Reevey of St. Paul’s wrapped up. He proved to be a force by roughing up the WSSU post players by putting a body on the Rams’ bigs.
Reevey scored 23 points and snatched down eight rebounds.
“No. 1 [Reevey] was a tough matchup for us tonight. He really played a good game,” Collins said.
During the second half, St. Paul’s shot 25 free throws to Winston Salem State’s 12, and they also forced the Rams into seven turnovers. St. Paul’s converted more free throws than the Rams had attempts from the charity stripe.
“I don’t blame referees for losses, but the free throw difference was a factor in the game,” Collins said.
The Rams had big efforts from key players. Paul Davis was tied for the lead in scoring with 16 points for the Rams, along with teammate Lamar Monger. Davis was also the teams leading rebounder with 16.
The Rams shot 28.6 percent from deep on 6-of-21 attempts for the game.
“Sometimes you live by the three, and sometimes you die by the three,” Collins said.
“Tonight we died by the three.”
WSSU won’t have long to bounce back. The next three contests will all be between CIAA opponents. The Rams will have home-court advantage, though. Collins plans to use that in his favor.
“We have to do a better job sticking to the game plan,” Collins said.