Jan. 28, 2008

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - John Holmes scored 13 points as the Wildcats hit timely free throws to advance Bethune-Cookman University past the visiting University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday night, 63-54 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest inside Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Junior transfer and Salisbury, Md. native John Holmes collected the third-highest Division I school record for rebounds in a single game with 18 as he simply dominated defensively for the Wildcats (8-12, 3-4 MEAC). For Holmes, needless to say, it was a single-game high for the Maryland native.

As for the rest of the team, B-CU had to hold off a pesky UMES (2-19, 0-6 MEAC) squad that was fired up from firing it up from all areas on the court. Great passes and fast-break opportunities led the Hawks to a near upset on the road. They played with passion and heart, according to interim head coach Meredith Smith, but it was the homestanding Wildcats that held up the victorious hands at the end of the game.

With Bethune-Cookman leading 27-25 at the half, the Hawks of UMES went on a quick run sparked by Ed Tyson's three-pointer from the right elbow to put them up 29-27 with 18:57 left in the contest. That was immediately followed up by a Marc Davis floater in the paint--one of many on the night by the Hawks, to push their advantage out to 31-27.

Davis and Tyson combined for 37 of UMES' 54 points on the evening. The combination guards were simply marvelous in their play, and helped to set the tone for an exciting, fast-paced game that excited both the crowd and the teams, in particular.

B-CU answered back shortly thereafter with a lay-up from Holmes and a three-pointer by senior Jimmy Hudson to give the `Cats the lead back at 32-31.

From there, the two teams traded baskets for a while with two lead changes and two ties before UMES tied their biggest lead of the game at 43-40 on an old-fashioned three-point play from Jahmal Bivins with 11:17 left in the game.

The Wildcats answered back, once again, with a 7-0 run that was headed up by the play of Holmes and transfer Dominique Whatley. Whatley's jumper from the left elbow pushed the `Cats out to a 47-43 lead with 8:49 showing in the game. The Atlanta, Ga. native followed that up with a back-breaking three-pointer from the right side that extended the Wildcats lead to 54-49 before freshman point guard Joey Woods connected on a three-pointer from the right side to stamp the dagger in the heart of the Hawks.

B-CU led 59-51 at that point with just 45 ticks left in the game.

"That was the back breaker for them, I think, was Joey's three-pointer," exclaimed B-CU head coach Clifford Reed, Jr. "I think that was timely, and he just hit it when it counted. He's a player that you can just coach, and coach, and coach ... and he will continue to listen and get better as time goes by."

The valiant effort for the Hawks was led by All-MEAC preseason selection Ed Tyson with a game-high 24 points. He added five steals as another game-high on defense. Behind him was backcourt mate Marc Davis with 13 points and a game-high six assists.

As for the victorious Wildcats, they ended their two-game losing skid with the help of Holmes' 13-point, 18-rebound performance. He also helped the offense with three assists and two steals. For the junior, it was back-to-back double-double performances.

Also touching double-digits in scoring was Whatley with 15 points on an incredible 5-for-6 shooting touch from the field. That included a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point territory. Senior guard Dewayne Pettus added 10 points and five rebounds to round-out the scoring for the `Cats in double-figures.

"I thought we showed a lot of character tonight in the way we were able to close-out the ball game," stated B-CU head coach Clifford Reed, Jr. "We had that problem against Delaware State and we were not going to let that happen tonight."

The Wildcats will get back to action on Saturday, Feb. 2 when they travel to South Carolina State University for a 4 p.m. contest in Orangeburg, S.C. For more information, please stay tuned to www.BCCathletics.com.