Dec. 2, 2008
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LATE FREE THROWS PRESERVE 65-61 WIN OVER WEBBER
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -
Bethune-Cookman (3-4) hit 8 of 10 free throws in the final 1:01 of the game to preserve a 65-61 home win over Webber International University (2-2) Tuesday night at Moore Gymnasium. Senior Tobias Mahone made 4-4 charity tosses in the final 19 seconds as WIU hit two three-pointers in the final minute to draw within one point 62-61 with three seconds left. B-CU Freshman Stanley Elliott hit one of two free throws with three seconds left to make the margin 63-61 and WIU's length of the court pass went out of bounds with no time going off the clock. Then the Warriors immediately fouled Mahone and he hit two free throws to seal the verdict.
"We practice and execute hard in practices and players stayed extra and shot more free throws after Monday's practice. We left free throws out there in the Chicago State game (last Friday) and down the stretch in the Texas Southern game too - otherwise we would have won by double digits Saturday (68-61 win over Texas Southern in Chicago), " said B-CU Head Coach Clifford Reed, Jr. following the game.
Webber University scratched and clawed against the Wildcats all night long as the game was tied eight times and WIU led 29-27 at halftime. The Warriors' Halston Schaffer's free throw gave the visitors a 50-47 lead with 6:50 to play before B-CU went on a 10-3 run keyed by co-captain Alexander Starling's seven points - giving the Wildcats a 57-53 lead with 2:21 remaining (following two C.J. Reed free throws). Starling's jumper in the lane with 4:28 to play, was the last field goal of the night for Bethune-Cookman. B-CU was 14 of 18 free throws in the final four minutes. The 'Cats made 20-26 free throws in the game.
Starling led all scorers with a game-high 18 points, C.J Reed scored 14 and had four assists, and John Holmes totaled 12 points and five rebounds for the Wildcats. Senior co-captain Kevan Creppy contributed 8 points and 7 rebounds off the bench for B-CU.
With the 2008-2009 Moore Gymnasium home opening win completed, B-CU is back to the road Saturday opening the MEAC season at Florida A & M University, 4 p.m. start in Tallahassee. Catch all the Wildcat action on WELE 1380 AM with the "Voice of the Wildcats" Mike Johnson or on the internet at www.wele1380.com .
