Another chapter in the Central State – Wilberforce rivalry came to a close with a dramatic ending as CSU junior guard Sterling Gilmore came up with the game-winning basket to help CSU escape Wilberforce's campus with a 67-65 win on Monday night.
Coming off a dramatic 73-72 win over Lemoyne-Owen on Saturday, the Marauders opened the game with high intensity on defense, generating two quick WU turnovers and turning them into points on the other end. A Jeremy Brown dunk on a fast break gave CSU an early 9-0 lead and forced WU coach Terry Futrell to call a timeout to regather the Bulldogs. Whatever Futrell said in the huddle seemed to spark his team as the Bulldogs slowly chipped away at the CSU lead and evened the score up, 17-17 with 11:29 left in the first half. A Darrion Riddle three ball gave WU their first lead of the evening, 22-19, at the 8:33 mark. The team's continued to trade baskets for the remainder of the half. Back-to-back three pointers from CSU senior Tre' Edwards
to end the half gave the Marauders a 33-30 advantage.
CSU remained ahead by a slim margin through the first 6 minutes of the second half. A three pointer from Gilmore and two free throws from Sean Cassidy, Jr. gave CSU a 43-37 edge at the 14:01 mark. Hosie Smith, Jr. gave the Marauders their largest lead of the half, 47-41, with 11:48 remaining. WU answered with a 7-0 run capped off by a Arthur Haggard three pointer to put the Bulldogs up 48-47. Neither team gained separation from the other down the stretch. With 4 minutes remaining, Dymiere Finch converted on a fast break to put CSU up 63-61. Smith, Jr. scored on the next CSU possession to put the team up by 4 with 2:31 to play. WU forward Devontae Berry hit a midrange jumper to bring the Bulldogs within 2. With CSU coming up empty on its next two offensive possessions, WU failed to take full advantage as the Bulldogs made just two of four free throws attempts. A Patrick Mitchell make from the line tied up the game, 65-65, with 39 seconds remaining. Gilmore, who hit game-winning free throws on Saturday, came up with the game-winner for CSU once more as the junior drove the lane and hit the off-balanced shot to put his team up 67-65. The Bulldogs had two good looks to extend the game but a Patrick Mitchell three pointer hit the front of the rim and a jumper from Berry came up short as the CSU players and fans celebrated on the Wilberforce court.
Central State enjoyed balanced scoring in the victory. Sean Cassidy, Jr., who transferred from Wilberforce to CSU for his senior season, finished with a game-high 12 points. Smith, Jr., Brown and Finch each finished with 9 points. Edwards, Konteh and Gilmore each had 8 points as CSU took the two-game season series over Wilberforce and improved to 9-11 overall.
The Bulldogs were paced by Devontae Berry and Michael Forrest, who each finished with 11 points.
The Marauders return to SIAC competition when they host rival Kentucky State in the final home game of the season this Saturday at 8 pm. Central State will honor its four departing seniors during pre-game.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Tuesday, February 9th 2016 at 2:36PM
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