Feb. 23, 2008

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WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The 85^th meeting between the Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina A&T men's basketball programs featured a coaches ejection, a packed house of over 4,200 fans, exciting end-to-end college basketball action and a 71-63 WSSU victory as the Rams downed their I-40 rival at the LJVM Coliseum Annex on Saturday evening.

The 85^th meeting between the two teams turned out to be one of the most exciting contests of the rivalry with the Rams and Aggies battling all 40 minutes. The game featured nine lead changes and just two ties came down to some clutch WSSU free throw shooting to pull out the win. As a team, the Rams hit 9-of-11 free throws in the final minute of play, including going 3-of-4 on a pair of technical fouls on the North Carolina A&T bench.

As a team, the Rams had one of their best shooting performances of the season shooting a scorching 53.2% from the floor, including shooting 60% from the field in the second half. It was only fitting that WSSU senior forward Darrell Wonge would be one of the top performers of the night as Wonge poured in 16 points along with three assists in the game. Winston-Salem native Jamal Durham led the way for the Rams with a team-high 17 points in the game. WSSU senior guard Roy Peake added 14 points and a game-high six assists. WSSU freshman Paul Davis added 11 points and eight rebounds in the game as well.

The Rams came out firing early in the contest, taking an early 8-3 lead to open the contest. A lay-up by Davis with 16:27 left in the first half would cap the early run by the Rams. However, the Aggies would bounce back, with an 8-2 run that gave the visitors their first lead of the game, 11-10 with 14:22 left in the first half. They were able to respond, however as a thunderous Durham dunk with 9:57 left in the half would give the Rams their biggest lead of the half, 24-16. Try as they might, the Rams could not rid themselves of the Aggies with North Carolina A&T battling back to take a 30-29 lead with just under five minutes left in the half. Down the stretch of the half, the Rams would get no closer and ended the half trailing, 31-34.

The second half turned out to be a much different story, however, as the Rams battled back to reclaim the lead, 37-36 with 14:57 left to play. Capped by a pair of clutch Wonge free throws, a theme throughout the entire night, the Rams claimed their first lead of the second half with 14:02 left to play. The squad would push their lead up to as many as seven points, 48-41 with 9:13 left to play. In a manner similar to the first half, the Aggies once again clawed their way back into the lead, 54-53 with 5:16 left to play.

The Rams, however, would not be denied on this night, as a Davis jumper a few seconds later would put the Rams back on top, this time for good. The Rams fought off the pesky Aggies in the final minutes of the game, allowing North Carolina A&T to come no closer than two points in the final five minutes of the game and closing the final minute of play with the aforementioned clutch shooting.

With tonight's win, the Rams inch one game closer to the Aggies, who hold a 48-36 lead in the rivalry, while WSSU head coach Bobby Collins improves his record against the Aggies to 7-2 all-time.

For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.