Jan. 31, 2009
Final Stats B-CU 21 Game Cumulative Stats/Results (11-10, 5-3,MEAC)
Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.
'Cats Lose Late Lead With SCSU Securing Comeback Win 59-51
A long three-pointer by SCSU guard Jimmy Williams and a steal, and seven points by All-MEAC frontliner Jason Johnson keyed an 18-3 run in the final eight minutes to lead the Bulldogs (8-11, 3-4 MEAC) to a 59-51, come-from-behind victory Saturday in Daytona Beach.
The Wildcats (11-10, 5-3 MEAC) led 48-41, with 7:41 to play on a powerful dunk by senior John Holmes off a pass from point guard C. J. Reed. The 'Cats would score only one more field goal in the game (Reed driving layup at 3:20) to give B-CU a 50-45 lead.
Bethune-Cookman held the lead for 38 minutes until SCSU's Johnson's three-point play in the paint with 1:07 to play gave the Bulldogs a 52-51 lead - their first lead since being up 1-0 in the opening minute of the contest.
B-CU missed three shots and had two turnovers in its next five possessions and SCSU hit 8 of 12 free throws in the final minute for the comeback win.
The Wildcats led at halftime 25-21, with both teams shooting poorly from the field in the first twenty minutes. B-CU was only 8-25 field goals (28.1 %) and SCSU was 8-23 (32.0 %). Sophomore co-captain C. J. Reed each scored seven first half points to lead B-CU offensively.
"We didn't execute at the end of the game. We didn't rebound, we turned the ball over. Missed free throws, missed layups - our mistakes hurt us," said B-CU CoachClifford Reed, Jr. "We lost the game - our inability to finish down the stretch. Our inability to rebound the basketball."
An upset Reed was also not happy with the 31 free throw attempts (SCSU was 19-31 free throws in the game, B-CU was 8-13 free throws) - and the Wildcats were whistled for 24 fouls to 12 against the visiting Bulldogs.
Johnson led SCSU with 14 points and 14 rebounds. C.J. Reed had 12 points and six assists as B-CU's only player in double figures.
The Wildcats next host future MEAC member - Winston-Salem State University (an 80-66 winner at FAMU Saturday), Monday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m. at Moore Gymnasium before hitting the road for two weekends in MEAC play at Norfolk State (Feb. 7), at North Carolina A&T (Feb. 9), at Coppin State (Feb. 14), at Morgan State (Feb. 16).
