Jan. 24, 2011

Final Stats

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The art of completely putting a team away still eluded Bethune-Cookman Monday night, but the 56-49 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Howard represented an improvement as the Wildcats regained sole possession of the conference lead.

CJ Reed and Alexander Starling double-doubled with 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Wildcats (11-9 overall, 6-1 MEAC) capitalized on Florida A&M's upset of Hampton to take first place in the MEAC standings. Morgan State is a half-game behind.

B -CU opened up a 45-28 lead with 15:35 remaining on a Javoris Bryant jumper, but the Bison (2-17,0-7) stayed around and got it under ten points three times in the final four minutes. This wasn't like at Delaware State or Maryland Eastern Shore where double-digit leads dwindled to one-possession games.

In fact, it was an improvement but it didn't feel like one against a struggling Bison squad.

"We've had problems playing ahead," said B-CU coach Clifford Reed Jr. "We have multiple things going. Sometimes, we get complacent, sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes the other teams makes plays and forces us to make mistakes.

"We could have made it easier, but we didn't tonight," Coach Reed added. " I do have a concern about that, but I'm elated to get the win tonight."

B-CU saw an early 4-0 lead turn into a 13-7 deficit before holding the Bison to a field goal in the final six minutes. The Wildcats pulled away from a 20-19 lead into a 27-19 lead at halftime when CJ Reed hit a buzzer-beater to end the first 20 minutes.

Holloman was 6-9 from the field and was a rebound shy of his third double-double of the season. Starling recorded his second double-double of the year and 5-7 from the field. CJ Reed had his highest rebounding total of the year with seven.

B-CU goes on the road to face South Carolina State Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

NOTES: Starling moved into 10th on the B-CU all-time rebounding list with 588, passing Ken Boynton (581); Starling's double-double marked the 8th of his career and his 18th double-figure rebound game.. B-CU is now 7-0 when Holloman scored 15 or more points and 6-0 when he snags at least nine reboubds ...B-CU did not make a three-pointer for the first time this season ... Wildcats have won the rebounding battle in each of the last four games ... Howard lost its ninth straight... B-CU is 7-1 when their opponent has 18 or more turnovers.