Bulldogs Maul Bearcats

            With how I wanted to begin this particular column/story, I had it all planned out. Well, I completely scrapped it all! After an occurrence of this past Saturday (November 14, 2015), I must begin in a totally different manner. This past Saturday, the Wilberforce University (WU) Bulldogs’ Men’s Basketball Team was in Chicago, Illinois. For the sole purpose of competing in The Windy City Hardwood Classic, the team was in town. The Bulldogs’ opponent was the Kentucky State University (KSU) Thorobreds. Now, anyone who has read my columns over the past two years knows one thing. As a Central State University (CSU) Graduate, you know exactly how I feel about KSU. Being that this story is about WU, I will not get into the intense rivalry which exists between KSU and THE CSU Marauders. However, I will say the following. In any sport, the Thorobreds are a constant thorn in the side of the Marauders. For CSU, the various athletic contests (against KSU) are always very difficult to deal with. As far as basketball goes, WU has had its difficulties with KSU too. Of course, this past Saturday presented a much different outcome. A brand-new chapter in the story has been written. At the end of a very grueling, hard-fought contest, WU defeated KSU 72-70. The game did not end in regulation. In order to finish the game, the teams needed Overtime Play. After pulling out such a surprise victory, what kind of condition are the Bulldogs in tonight? Where does their focus lie? If WU is not completely focused, the Brescia University (BU) Bearcats will exit The Alumni Multiplex with a victory in tow.

            Brescia won the game’s tip-off. On the tip-off, Wilberforce knocked the ball out of bounds. The Bearcats were awarded possession. At 19:42, BU’s Jermain Langley made a 2-Point Basket. A Jump Ball was soon called (19:07). The Bulldogs obtained possession. From 18:38 to 18:05, WU went on a 4-0 Scoring Run. The Bulldogs followed that up with 2-Defensive Rebounds. However, WU was unable to score. From 17:19 to 15:53, WU committed 2-Turnovers. BU went on a 6-0 run. Langley scored 4-Points. At the 15:02 mark, WU’s Devontae Berry stopped the run. With an assist from teammate Patrick Mitchell, Berry went on to make a 2-Point Basket. After that, each team nailed a 3-Point Basket. Then, each team made a 2-Point Basket. At the 14:02 mark, a Timeout was called. By the score of 13-11, Brescia led Wilberforce. Thus far, the game is “DEAD-EVEN.” No one is obtaining an advantage.

            At 13:47, BU’s Trey Howard made a 2-Point Basket. During the process, he was fouled. After he successfully made his Free Throw Attempt, the Bearcats took a 16-11 lead. From 13:33 to 10:35, each team committed 3-Turnovers. WU outscored BU 6-3. Langley scored the Bearcats’ 3-Points. With 10:18 remaining in the First Half, the Bulldogs’ Mitchell made a 2-Point Basket. That conversion tied the game 19-19. Before a Full Timeout (6:24), WU turned the ball over twice. BU had 1-Turnover. The Bulldogs’ Arthur Haggard, III hit a 3-Point Basket. The Bearcats’ Tavon Johnson made 2-Foul Shots. WU possessed a 22-21 lead. This game is still DEAD-EVEN! Each player has both feet on the gas pedal. Speed and Intensity are both way up.

            After the Timeout, BU went on to commit 3-Turnovers. WU committed 1-Turnover. The Bulldogs proceeded to go on a 10-1 run. With 3:40 remaining before Halftime, Brescia called a Full Timeout. Both teams are still going full speed. Although Wilberforce leads 32-22, this game still very much feels tied. The Bearcats are still in this game. During the final 3:02, each team committed 1-Turnover. Each team had a Defensive Block (at the basket). BU outscored WU 8-6. At the end of the First Half, BU trailed WU 38-30. I am about to say something which will make no sense (WHATSOEVER) to some people. Although Wilberforce University possesses an 8-Point Lead, to me, this game still feels “DEAD-EVEN!” Brescia University is hanging right along with the Bulldogs. The Bearcats refuse to back down.

            After the Halftime Break, BU started with possession of the ball. Austin Morris missed a shot. However, he got the rebound. At 19:43, Morris made a 2-Point Basket. How does WU respond? The Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run. Maxime Maisonnet; Michael Forrest; and Berry each made a 2-Point Basket. From 17:06 to 14:09, each team scored 8-Points. WU’s lead was now 12-Points (52-40). From 13:50 to 9:08, WU outscored BU 14-9. For the Bulldogs, Haggard scored 5-Points. Mitchell had 7-Points. Before another Full Timeout (7:23), the Bearcats went on a 7-0 run. Howard scored 5-Points. WU led BU 66-56.

            After the Timeout, WU poured it on. Effectively, the Bulldogs ended the game. From 6:55 to 5:04, WU outscored BU 12-0. Shawn Best, Jr. (1); Malik Breckenridge (2); and Maisonnet (1) each nailed a 3-Point Basket. In Breckenridge’s case, he nailed two of them. At the 3:52 mark, Breckenridge hit another 3-Point Basket. With 3:27 remaining in the game, Maisonnet hit another 3-Point Basket too. Seventeen seconds later (3:10), Berry laid down a Monster Dunk. During the remaining 2:56, the score was fairly close. WU outscored BU 6-5. However, that did not matter. The game was already set in stone. The Bulldogs were going to arise victorious. That fact just did not stop the Bearcats from playing hard. By the Final Score of 92-64, WU won the game.