If you have followed my columns for “Xenia’s Word On The Street” – www.xeniaword.com – (since I started on July 27, 2013), you probably are already aware of what I am talking
about. If not, please pay attention. I (Darryl L. McGee) Have No Patience! In
the world of Journalism, is that a good thing? That is not for me to decide.
However, I will say this. “Having No Patience” has its
advantages & disadvantages. Being that I have just told you I have no
patience, just think about something. Today (Thursday, December 3, 2015), I
find myself currently sitting inside of Central State University’s (CSU)
Beacom-Lewis Gymnasium (BLG). In just minutes, I will be watching CSU’s Men’s
Basketball Team take the court. The Marauders’ opponent will be the Benedict
College (BC) Tigers. For more than a month, I have covered basketball games at
Wilberforce University (WU); Xenia High School (XHS); and here (Lady
Marauders). It was a long time coming, but it is now here. The wait is over!
Finally, I will get to see the team play which I have most highly-anticipated
viewing. Coming into today’s contest, the Marauders possess an Overall
2015-2016 Season Record of 0-2. Therefore, the young men are still searching
for their first win. Will it come today? If the Tigers have anything to do with
it (which they do), it will not be happening.
Beginning
with this season, all of Central State’s Athletic Teams have become members of
the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). As a result, the
Marauders have severed all ties with the Great Midwest Athletic Conference
(GMAC). Do I agree and/or like CSU’s decision to depart the GMAC for the SIAC? NO, I
DO NOT! However, that is a subject for another day. Therefore, I will
not get into it right now. Benedict College is a member of the SIAC. The
following contest will be CSU’s first-ever conference game. Benedict won the
game’s tip-off. The Tigers quickly started the game with a 4-0 Scoring Run. At
18:44, Central State’s Tre Edwards got the Marauders onto the scoreboard. He picked
up 2-Points. After BC committed 2-Turnovers, CSU’s Robert Konteh made a good
defensive play. He was standing at the basket. One of the Tigers’ players threw
up a Shot Attempt. Unfortunately, Konteh knocked it out of the air. The ball
went out of bounds. BC maintained possession.
With
17:39 displayed on the clock, the Tigers turned the ball over. From 17:39 to
17:03, the Marauders went on a 4-0 run. BC’s Christopher Spencer countered with
a 2-Point Basket. The score was now tied 6-6. At the 15:44 mark, a Media
Timeout was called. Thus far, this has been a tight game. The game is tied.
Both teams are still feeling each other out. After the Timeout, CSU went on to commit
1-Turnover (14:56). However, the Marauders made up for their mistake. At 14:38,
CSU’s Tom Johnson stole the ball. He ran all the way up the court. By making a
2-Point Basket, Johnson’s journey ended. BC did not take this situation lying
down. The Tigers nailed a 3-Point Basket.
CSU
soon tied the game 9-9. At 13:53, the Marauders’ Windale Glinton made 1-Foul
Shot. Then, CSU’s Sterling Gilmore hit a 3-Point Basket (13:07). BC would not
be outdone. Sixteen seconds later (12:51), the Tigers’ Quayshun Hawkins nailed
a 3-Point Basket. The Marauders’ Dymiere Finch came back with a 2-Point Basket.
Before another Timeout (10:16), scoring was even. Each team scored 3-Points.
For CSU, Edwards nailed a 3-Point Basket. CSU led BC 17-15. From 9:52 to 8:03,
CSU outscored BC 6- 4. Konteh scored 4-Points. BC’s Brennan Reynard hit a
3-Point Basket. With 7:35 remaining in the First Half, a Media Timeout was
called. The Marauders’ lead was 4-Points (23-19).
After
the Timeout, Konteh went on to have 2-Blocks. At 6:19, Hawkins made a 2-Point
Basket. BC soon turned the ball over. At the 5:20 mark, Finch spun his way to
the basket. He made a 2-Point Basket. During the play, he was fouled. Finch
stepped to the Free Throw Line. His Foul Shot Attempt was good. The 3-Point
Play gave CSU a 26-21 lead. Ten seconds
later (5:10), BC turned the ball over. Before the next Timeout (3:20), each team
scored 2-Points. The Marauders’ lead was now 5-Points (28-23). From 3:20 to 9.1
Seconds, the Tigers outscored the Marauders 12-3. Rydealous Taylor and teammate
Hawkins each scored 5-Points. With no time remaining on the clock, the
Marauders’ Johnson nailed a 3-Point Basket. At the end of the First Half,
Benedict College leads Central State 35-31.
As
you can see, this game is too close for either team’s comfort. During the last
3:20 of the First Half, Benedict overcame Central State’s lead. The Tigers took
the lead and created minimal separation. With no time remaining on the clock,
the Marauders’ Tom Johnson nailed a 3-Point Basket. For the Marauders, that is
a good way to go into the Halftime Break. Neither team can obtain a distinct
advantage over the other team. Seven seconds after the Second Half started
(19:53), Taylor nailed a 3-Point Basket. Edwards missed a 3-Point Basket.
However, Gilmore made one. At 18:24, BC made another 3-Point Basket. Then, the
Tigers made a 2-Point Basket. From 17:48 to 16:07, CSU outscored BC by only
1-Point (8-7). At the 16:00 mark, BC’s Brennan Reynard was going up for a Shot
Attempt. However, Robert Konteh was awaiting him. Once again, Konteh picked up another
Block. Going into a Media Timeout, BC
led CSU 50-42.
The
Tigers did not settle down. From 15:50 to 14:32, BC outscored CSU 8-2. Jordan
Smith and teammate Taylor each hit a 3-Point Basket. With 14:29 on the clock, a
Timeout was called. BC possessed a 14-Point Lead (58-44). With the 3-Point
Basket, BC is starting to put the Marauders away. Overall shooting and good
defense both are creating separation. CSU started to get back on track. From
13:42 to 12:06, CSU outscored BC 5-2. At the 11:52 mark, a Media Timeout was
called. The Marauders are missing too many Foul Shots. That is another issue
which is hurting the team. It is hindering success. CSU trails BC 60-49. The
Marauders still have a wall to get over.
After
the Media Timeout, CSU put its foot on the gas pedal. The Marauders went on to
outscore BC 12-2. Gilmore scored 5-Points. Sean Cassidy, Jr. nailed a 3-Point
Basket. With 8:13 remaining in the game, CSU calls a Timeout. Now, CSU trails
BC by only 1-Point (62-61). After the Timeout, Taylor hit a 3-Point Basket. The
Marauders committed 1-Turnover. At 7:17, a Media Timeout and Timeout were both
called. From 6:36 to 6:04, CSU’s Hosie Smith, Jr. outscored the Tigers 4-0. The
game was now tied 65-65. Before a Media Timeout (3:28), BC outscored CSU 7-6.
BC led CSU 72-71. At the 3:04 mark,
Hawkins made 2-Foul Shots. Then, a Full Timeout was called.
CSU
went on to turn the ball over. Then, the Marauders obtained a Steal. With 2:09
remaining in the game, a Timeout was called. From 2:09 to 20.0 Seconds, BC outscored CSU
5-4. By the score of 79-75, the Tigers still led the Marauders. At the 20.0 Seconds mark, a Full Timeout was
called. With 11.2 Seconds remaining in the game, Cassidy made a 2-Point Basket.
During the process, he was fouled. However, he missed the Foul Shot. The
3-Point Play did not take place. At 10.5 Seconds, the Tigers’ Jordan Smith made
2-Foul Shots. By 4-Points (81-77), the Tigers were still leading the Marauders.
A Timeout was called. With 0.5 Seconds left, CSU made a 2-Point Basket. Another
Timeout was called. In order to make something possibly happen, the Marauders just
did not possess enough time. As a result, they went on to lose the game. The
Final Score was BC 81 and CSU 79.
Normally,
I am not one to complain about officiating. However, the last couple of minutes
featured some very questionable calls against Central State. Ultimately, did
they prevent the Marauders from winning? Definitely, I would have to say NO.
There were other factors that prevented CSU from obtaining victory. Poor Free
Throw Shooting and the inability to properly defend the 3-Point Basket were two
key factors that hindered the Marauders’ chances of winning this game.
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