GREENSBORO (January 9, 2016) – There is no question as to who the two entities were that inhibited the North Carolina A&T men's basketball team from claiming victory Monday evening. Maryland Eastern Shore junior guard Ryan Andino scored 31 points on 9-for-13 shooting from 3-point range and senior Bakari Copeland had 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting to lead the Hawks to a 99-88 win at Corbett Sports Center.
There were some oddities to the game for the Aggies (1-15, 0-3 MEAC), however. N.C. A&T had their highest point total of the season by 21 points. A season-high four players scored in double figures and the Aggies 45.3 shooting percentage from the floor was also a season high. Junior Eliel Gonzalez had a career-high 21 points, while redshirt junior Sam Hunt finished with 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Redshirt junior James Whitaker enjoyed his first game in double figures – 12 points – since scoring 11 on Nov. 22. Redshirt sophomore Amari Hamilton added 10.
Yet, the Aggies gave up 90 or more points at home to a conference opponent for the first time since Jan. 24, 2011 when North Carolina Central did it.
“It's like trying to plug up a dam really,” said N.C. A&T coach Jay Joyner. “You get one leak plugged up and another one springs up. One game it's rebounding that hurts us, we get that fixed and then it's turnovers. We get the turnovers fixed, and then we come out and don't play defense. It's not a surprise to our guys who their best two players are. We just didn't make the effort to defend. We should never give up 99 points to a conference opponent.”
The Hawks (4-12, 1-0 MEAC) took control of the game and never really relinquished it with 8:36 remaining the first half. MDES already had a 29-14 lead at the moment, but then went on to connect on seven straight field goals. Thomas Rivera had the seventh field goal in that streak as he took a pass from Michael Chambers in transition to give the Hawks a 49-25 lead with 3:25 remaining in the first half. N.C. A&T fortunately got on a hot streak of their own at the end of the first half thanks to Whitaker.
Whitaker entered the game with 4:24 remaining in the first half. During his time, he cut to the basket and was found underneath by Hamilton for a score. Whitaker then hit back-to-back 3-pointers before closing the half with a steal and dunk to send the Aggies into the locker room down 54-39.
“We didn't do a very good job of handling their pressure (defense) early in the game,” said Joyner. “I thought our guys played well once they stopped turning the ball over. We had 10 in the first half and only five in the second half. We just couldn't make enough stops. That was the game.”
MDES did see their 24-point lead chopped down to 64-53 with 14:36 remaining in the game on a Gonzalez runner. The Aggies had a chance to get the game into single figures, but junior Davaris McGowens had his reverse layup roll around the rim before rolling out. The Hawks took advantage by getting revved up offensively again. Logan McIntosh followed his own miss for a score, Derrico Peck caught an alley-oop from Dontae Caldwell in transition, Andino found himself open from three in transition to knock down another shot from beyond the arc and Copeland completed the 9-0 run with a layup to give the Hawks a 73-53 lead with 12:20 remaining.
“We scored 45 points in the second half and we shot the ball well tonight,” said Joyner. “Our guys keep showing signs that they're ready to turn the corner. We just have to figure out a way to piece it all together in the same game.”
N.C. A&T returns to action in Saturday/Monday contest in Baltimore. The Baltimore swing starts at Coppin State 4 p.m., Saturday before the Aggies head across town to face Morgan State Monday night at 7:30.
