Missed free throws lead to Rams 81-73 loss

The Rams struggled to take advantage of opportunities from the free throw line in an 81-73 home loss to the Livingstone College Blue Bears Feb. 5.    

The Rams struggled to hold on to the ball turning it over 20 times and only having five assists for the game.

"When you have 20 turnovers and five assists, you don't win games that way," said Head Basketball Coach Bobby Collins.

In the first half, the Rams had an early  two point lead that they would relinquish early and never attain again. The pressure from the Blue Bears zone defense had the Rams taking shots from deep in the shot clock and turning the ball over.

"They did a good job of playing zone defense and really keeping the pressure up and forcing us into mistakes," Collins said.

The Rams also struggled from deep in the first half shooting one-for-11 and not really taking advantage of open shot opportunities.

"We need to shoot with more confidence," Collins said.

"When we shoot with confidence, we can hit more shots. I just did not see that tonight."

The Rams went into the half trailing 33-24.

The Rams opened the second half cutting the Blue Bears lead by four 35-30.

The Rams attacked the basket early and often, drawing fouls in the first six minutes of the second half and putting  the Blue Bears in the bonus situation.

Despite this advantage, the Rams struggled from the free throw line missing 13-of-34 attempts.

"When you miss that many free throws, it makes it harder to play from behind," Collins said.

The Rams were looking for a bright spot in this game and they got it from two familiar sources. Paul Davis had another impressive performance shooting six-of-seven from the field and snatching down 18 rebounds.

Lamar Monger contributed with one of his better performances on the season, despite his five turnovers. Monger had 23 points and shot 14 of 20 from the charity stripe.

"We know what we are going to get from him [Monger] every night," Collins said.

The Rams failed to take advantage of the turnovers they forced and could not control the points off turnovers they surrendered.

"We dug ourselves in too deep a hole," Monger said.

The Rams next four games are on the road, including a rematch with the Blue Bears Feb. 14 in Salisbury.