Box Score CSU survives in 61-58 win over Davis & Elkins
Wilberforce, OH - Playing host to the 6-13 Senators from Davis & Elkins, the Central State Marauders survived a near upset at home with a 61-58 victory on Thursday night.
With the win, CSU improves to 14-8 overall with a 6-2 mark in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. CSU currently is tied in the loss column with G-MAC leader Alderson Broaddus (15-6; 8-2).
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Coming off a 43 point career high performance last Saturday against Cedarville, senior guard Masceo Harmon faced double teams throughout the first half. Davis & Elkins' strategy paid off in the first stanza as the leading scorer in the conference was held to just 5 points on 1 of 4 shooting. CSU forward Raheem Lemons, the conference leader in rebounds, managed just 2 in the first half and was 0 for 5 from the field. With their top two players struggling to find a rhythm, sophomore Sterling Gilmore shouldered the CSU scoring early on with 16 points, including 3 straight makes from beyond the arc in the final 2:00 minutes of the period to give his team a 33-29 lead at halftime.Â
CSU led by as many as 9 after a Tre' Edwards 3-pointer put the Marauders up 43-34 with 12:31 left. Seemingly in control. CSU saw Masceo Harmon exit the game with 11 minutes left after twisting his ankle. Forced to play without their best player, CSU surrendered a 16-2 run as the Senators led 53-48 with 6:07 to play. Gilmore helped CSU keep the pace with back-to-back trips down the floor with baskets. Originally rules as doubtful to return, Harmon checked back into the game at the 5:37 mark and scored CSU's next 6 points to help reclaim a 3 point lead for his team with 3:11 to go. Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net in the final three minutes as neither team made a field goal down the stretch. Two free throws from D&E's Juwan Strothers made it a 59-58 game at the 2:22 mark. The next points came with 12 seconds remaining on two clutch free throws from Raheem Lemons to give CSU the 61-58 lead. After calling a timeout with 1.9 seconds to go, D&E went to Rickenjee Bellevue who's potential game tying field goal hit the back of the rim and out as time expired.
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"Tonight was an ugly win. Neither team could close the other out and we were really fortunate to come out on top," CSU head coach Joseph Price said. "I just hope we can turn around and play better on Saturday. We need to play our best game of the season if we want to beat Alderson Broaddus. We will need Sterling to continue his great play into the final weeks of the season and we hope to get the rest of the guys back on track."Â
Gilmore led all scorers with a season high 21 points, converting 7 of 13 field goals. Harmon followed with 13 points and added 4 assists. Tre' Edwards chipped in with 8 points on the night.
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Wesley Sprinkle finished with 11 points to lead the Senators. Davis & Elkins fell to 6-14 on the season and sits in 7th place in the G-MAC standings with a 2-8 record.
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"We are still in the hunt for first place and Saturday is a must win," Gilmore said. "Our leadership is growing and we are looking forward to finishing the season strong."
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Central State host Alderson Broaddus on Saturday at 4 pm.
