Wilberforce, OH – November 12, 2024

In front of a large and loud crowd the Marauders played an overtime battle at Beacom/Lewis Gym, the Central State Marauders (1-0) pulled off a hard-fought 62-56 victory over Bluefield State (2-1) on Tuesday evening. The game was a defensive slugfest, with both teams struggling with their shooting but finding ways to grind out crucial points when it mattered most.

A Slow Start for Both Teams

The first half of the game saw both teams struggle to find their rhythm offensively. Bluefield State shot a dismal 26.0% from the field, while Central State wasn't much better at 31.9%. The Marauders held a slight 12-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, with Central State's Cat Jones leading the way early on with 4 points.

Bluefield State had a better second quarter, narrowing the gap to 27-22 by halftime. However, both teams still faced challenges converting shots, with the Rams shooting just 28.6% in the first half. Central State's Azariah Binford was especially off-target, making only 2 of her 15 attempts, while Rhodes kept her team in the game with solid contributions.

Second Half: A Tense Back-and-Forth

The third quarter saw a much-needed offensive lift from both squads, though Bluefield State outpaced Central State, scoring 20 points to cut the Marauders' lead to 42-37 by the end of the period. Central State was buoyed by a series of key steals and rebounds from Dashanti Miller and Abbigail Peterson, while the Rams' forward Andrea Jenkins was the catalyst for their scoring with 5 points in the quarter.

With the game in the balance, both teams entered the final period with the Marauders holding a 48-47 edge. The fourth quarter continued the tense back-and-forth, as neither team was able to pull away. Despite Central State's struggles to shoot in the final stanza, hitting just 23.5% of their attempts, in huge fashion Abbigail Peterson knocked down two clutch free-throws that forced overtime. 

Overtime Drama

In overtime, it was Central State's defense that ultimately made the difference. Bluefield State's offense went cold in the extra period, shooting just 16.7% from the field. The Rams also struggled from deep, missing all three of their three-point attempts in overtime. On the other hand, the Marauders took advantage of Bluefield State's lack of offense, scoring 9 points in the extra period, including a clutch 5-of-5 showing at the free-throw line.

Freshman Samara Gibson added 5 more points in overtime to seal the win for Central State. Gibson finished with 8 points on the day including the key 5 point OT scoring, Peterson and Miller also made critical contributions, with Peterson finishing with 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Miller added 7 points and 12 rebounds.

Key Stats

• Central State: The Marauders shot 31.9% from the field and 70.0% from the free-throw line. Their defense forced 16 turnovers from Bluefield State and helped them maintain a slim lead for most of the game. The key stat of the game for the Marauders was their 65-43 rebound edge. 

• Bluefield State: Shot just 26% from the field and only 50% from the line. 

Up Next

The Marauders open up SIAC play in a rare early season contest with FVSU before a tough out of conference game with West Virginia State.

Final Score:
Bluefield State 56
Central State (OH) 62 (OT)

Attendance: 1,032
Location: Beacom/Lewis Gym, Wilberforce

Photo by: TJ Gilbert