Paine comes back to beat Marauders, 81-77

WILBERFORCE, Ohio – Central State let a healthy second half lead slip away in a 81-77 loss to Paine College on Thursday.

CSU dropped to 4-10 overall with a 3-6 record in SIAC play. Paine improves to 3-10 on the year with a 2-4 mark in conference play.

CSU jumped out to a 37-32 lead after 20 minutes of play. Paine chopped the CSU lead down to one, 39-38, by the 16:48 mark of the second half. Martin Oliver hit back-to-back three pointers to put the Marauders back up by seven.

Later in the half, Oliver and forward Chris Scott combined to score fourteen straight points for CSU, giving the Marauders a 64-54 lead with 8:02 remaining. Paine answered right back with a 14-0 run to claim a 68-64 lead with 4:46 to play. Frank Barber III ended CSU's scoreless drought and Oliver tied the game, 68-68, with a empathic dunk. Paine's Babe Murphy converted from beyond the arc on the next trip down the floor to put his team back up by three.

The teams traded baskets down the stretch as CSU's Davone Daniels converted a layup to bring the Marauders within one, 76-75, with 15 seconds left. Forced to foul, the Marauders sent Johnnie Robinson to the line. Robinson hit the first and missed the second but Paine forward Dwight Wheatley corralled the offensive rebound, Wheatley was immediately sent to the line and calmly knocked down both free throws to end any hopes of a CSU victory.

Murphy led Paine with 19 points and 6 rebounds. Wheatley recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Scott paced CSU with 30 points and 7 rebounds, Barber III finished with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Oliver scored 15 points. Daniels came off the bench to finish with 10 points.

The Marauders will try to snap their six-game losing streak on Monday when they travel to play Shawnee State University at 7 pm in Portsmouth, Ohio.
 
Notes
CSU has lost for the fourth time this season after leading by double-digits in the second half.

Six of CSU's losses have been by five points or less this season.

Chris Scott recorded his second game of 30 points this season.

Frank Barber III's 16 points on Thursday night is a season-high.

CSU senior Sterling Gilmore collected his 200^th career assist in the first half of Thursday's game.



Next Game
Opponent: Shawnee State
Date: Monday, January 8th
Tip-Off: 7 pm
Location: Portsmouth, Ohio


Coverage
Video (Shawnee State Sports Network) - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/shawneest/