CSU Loses Another Close Game

            Coming into today (Saturday, December 5, 2015), THE Central State University (CSU) Marauders’ Men’s Basketball Team possesses an Overall Season Record of 0-3. Will today’s game (vs. The Paine College (PC) Lions) be the day? Will CSU pick up its first win of the season? I do not know. I cannot answer that question. No one else can answer that question. Only God himself knows what exactly is about to happen. However, allow me to examine the situation this way. For their 0-3 record, do I look down upon the Marauders and Head Basketball Coach Joseph Price? NO! I do not look down upon anyone who is associated with the team, especially Coach Price. I believe in Coach Price and the work which he has put into his team (thus far). Assistant Coach Santino Davis has been a great asset too. Last season (2014-2015), the Marauders finished with an Overall Season Record of 18-12. Coach Price had just completed his first season at CSU. I will be totally honest with you. Last season’s success made me a “Prisoner Of The Moment.” I was so into what the team was doing that I forgot to realize something. IT WAS COACH PRICE’S FIRST SEASON (AS HEAD COACH OF THE MARAUDERS). In order for a Head Coach to completely mold and shape a team into his own vision, it takes time. One season will not fix everything.

            Although a team always wants to have a successful season, I believe that CSU’s situation was just a pure case of “being successful too soon.” Now, Coach Price; his coaching staff; his team; etc. all may not feel that way. There is nothing wrong with being successful. Just remember this. From year to year, college sports teams can look different. Due to various circumstances, players come and go. As a result, success is not always sustainable. Each year, various difficulties and problems are present. Those issues are not always the same. Players and coaches must roll with the punches. Adjustments must be made. Change is an occurrence that will forever be present. If one is not willing to change, then success will not be obtained. Whatever the case may be will remain the same. Always remember that statement.

            Central State won the game’s tip-off. After turning over the ball, the Marauders go on to outscore Paine 3-1. CSU’s Tre Edwards scored all 3-Points.  At 18:10, the Marauders’ Robert Konteh had a Hard Block (at the basket). However, the Lions did not allow that play to interfere with their success. From 17:50 to 17:19, PC went on a 5-0 Scoring Run. Before a Media Timeout at 15:36, CSU’s Sterling Gilmore obtained a Steal. Then, the Marauders committed an Offensive Foul. Both teams are moving fast. However, not many points are being scored. Teams are still feeling one another out. After the Timeout, Gilmore made a 2-Point Basket. Then, the Marauders had another Defensive Block (at the basket). With 14:58 on the clock, CSU was penalized for a Traveling Violation. The Lions converted that Turnover into 2-Points. From 13:56 to 13:16, CSU had 1-Defensive Block and committed 1-Traveling Violation. Before another Media Timeout (11:39), the Marauders went on a 6-0 run. CSU led PC 11-8.

            After the Timeout, CSU committed a 3-Second Violation. Then, the Marauders had another Hard Block (at the basket). PC outscored CSU 5-2. From 9:46 to 8:17, the Marauders went on a 7-2 run. Sean Cassidy, Jr. nailed a 3-Point Basket. With 7:56 remaining in the First Half, a Media Timeout was called. CSU leads PC 20-15. CSU is starting to establish momentum. The Marauders are moving in front of PC. After the Timeout, the Marauders went on to commit 2-Turnovers. Those mistakes did not hurt the team. CSU went on an 8-2 run. At the 4:58 mark, a Timeout was called. Ten seconds after the Timeout (4:48), PC’s Denzel Dillingham made 2-Foul Shouts. Before the minute was up, CSU’s Dymiere Finch made a 2-Point Basket. Then, the teams traded 3-Point Baskets. After the Lions’ Amis Libazs successfully made 2-Foul Shots, a Media Timeout was called. The Marauders possess a 33-24 lead.

            From 2:52 to 1:08, the game played out like this.  First, Libazs was standing at the right side of the basket. CSU’s Akil Cornish threw a Shot Attempt up. To his dismay, Libazs knocked the ball down. Then, each team made a 2-Point Basket. The time period ended with PC committing 2-Turnovers. During the final 55.5 Seconds of the First Half, the Lions outscored the Marauders 5-3. Dillingham scored all of the Lions’ 5-Points. With no time remaining on the clock, he nailed a 3-Point Basket. At the end of the First Half, CSU leads PC 38-31. Central State is beginning to separate itself from Paine. However, the Marauders do not have much room. The Lions are still very much in this game. At one point, it was beginning to look like CSU was going to run away with this game. However, PC made itself a significant part of this game again.

            As the Second Half got underway, Central State had possession of the ball. At 19:41, the Marauders’ Hosie Smith, Jr. made a 2-Point Basket. PC followed that up with a 6-0 run. At 17:47, a Timeout was called. PC trailed CSU by 3-Points (40-37). After the Timeout, the Marauders ended up committing 2-Turnovers. Dillingham nailed a 3-Point Basket. That conversion tied the game 40-40. At 16:22, Konteh made a 2-Point Basket. With 15:50 on the scoreboard, a Timeout was called. CSU allowed PC to linger around. Now, the Lions have made this game even. After the Timeout, the game became very messy. PC committed 3-Turnovers. CSU committed 2-Turnovers. The Lions outscored the Marauders 4-0.

            From 13:10 to 12:20, CSU obtained 2-Steals. Then, the team proceeded to go on its own 4-0 run. Edwards scored all 4-Points. The game’s “wacky play” continued. PC went on a 4-0 run. At 11:08, a Media Timeout was called. The Lions led the Marauders 48-46. Once the Timeout concluded, the Lions went on a 5-0 run. From 9:35 to 8:18, CSU outscored PC 7-4. At the 7:47 mark, a Timeout was called. The Lions’ lead was 4-Points (57-53). After the Timeout, scoring was very minimal and close. The Marauders scored 4-Points, and the Lions scored 3-Points. With 3:29 remaining in the game, a Media Timeout was called. PC’s lead was 3-Points (60-57).

            The game’s final 2:03 saw CSU outscore PC 8-7. After the final buzzer went off, PC had won the game. By the Final Score of 67-65, the Marauders allowed another close game to get away. As a result, CSU is still seeking out its first victory (of the 2015-2016 Season).