Johnson C. Smith Improves to 6-3 Overall with 75-56 Win Over Catawba
Golden Bulls Remain Perfect at Home
Kristene Kelly
December 17, 2007

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. –  – As the saying goes…”the second time is the charm”. Well not really, but the point has been made. Johnson C. Smith (6-3) was on the winning side of tonight’s  contest versus Catawba College (4-4) 75-56, avenging the earlier loss to the Indians. Three of five Golden Bull starters scored in double figures led by Ryan Scott’s 15 points.

Smith controlled the game from the first tip-off and never trailed. The lead was as many as 24 points. Catawba cut the lead to 11 put Smith quickly built it back up to 20 points.

“It’s a good time to reflect but we need to focus on what’s ahead..the CIAA, remarked Edmund Rainey”. “We have better focus and desire and that’s what we need to remember. The first time we played Elizabeth City and Catawba we thought we were better than we actually were. Now we know when we play together we can play with anyone.” Rainey (Buffalo, N.Y.) was the only player with a double-double scoring 13 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.

Catawba had season lows in field goal percentage (34.8%), points (56), and field goals made (23).  They committed a season high 22 turnovers while no Indian scored in double figures. Coming into the contest, the Indians had four players that averaged double-figures. The leading scorer for the Indians was Antonio Houston who had just nine points.

“We had 24 turnovers against 18 assists which concerned us as coaches,” said head coach Steve Joyner, Sr. “However, we continue to share the ball and that’s a good thing.”

Sharing the ball was an understatement as there were 18 Golden Bull assists spread among six different players. Maurice Hooper (Reidsville, N.C) did not pull in a double-double, but he was definitely a team player. He had seven points, seven rebounds, dished out seven assists, and stole the ball five times. Jerry Hollis (Charlotte, N.C.) continued his double-digit scoring ways with 14 points, while David Sanders (Buffalo, N.Y.) finished with 10 points.

JCSU ends the fall season on a high note avenging two losses to Elizabeth City State University and Catawba College. The Bulls will ride a three-game winning streak heading into the second half of the season. Smith opens up with Georgia College & State University on January 3. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Brayboy Gymnasium.

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