Marauders Unnecessarily Lose Game

            THE Central State University (CSU) Marauders’ Men’s Basketball Team is beginning to peak at the right time. After beginning the 2015-2016 Season with a 0-4 Record, the team has rebounded. Coming into today (Thursday, January 7, 2016), the Marauders’ record stands at 3-5. The only blemish came at the hands of Division 2 Powerhouse West Liberty University. By the Final Score of 113-90, the Hilltoppers defeated the CSU Marauders. With their overall Dedication, Determination, and Passion, the Marauders have truly impressed me. They proved to everyone (especially their doubters) that they were not going to allow a bad start to linger. The team was not going to allow its negative beginning to keep it held down. Is 3-5 the best record around? Of course, it is not the best record. It is still a losing record. The record could use some improvement. Within the next three weeks, CSU has scheduled games against Cedarville University, Kentucky State University, and Wilberforce University. For the Marauders, those institutions are key rivals. Therefore, the Marauders have to be up to the task of competing with them all. Between now and the time of those games, CSU has to first play five other games. That series of games begins tonight. Inside of CSU’s Beacom-Lewis Gymnasium, tonight’s opponent will be the Clark-Atlanta University (CAU) Panthers. The Marauders’ full-attention better be focused on CAU. If not, it may very well be a long night!

            Clark-Atlanta won the game’s tip-off. At 19:31, the Panthers missed a deep shot. Eighteen seconds later (19:13), Central State’s Robert Konteh scored the game’s first points. He made a 2-Point Basket.  CAU’s Derek Harper soon nailed a 3-Point Basket. Thirty seconds later (18:22), the Marauders’ Sterling Gilmore successfully made 1-Foul Shot. CSU’s Tre Edwards soon picked up a Steal. Unfortunately, the Marauders were unable to score. From 17:38 to 15:58, CSU committed 1-Turnover. CAU outscored CSU 6-2. At the 16:15 mark, Harper drove to the basket. He went around a defender. Then, he proceeded to pick up 2-Points. After the Marauders ended up turning the ball over, a Media Timeout was called. By the score of 9-5, CSU trailed CAU.

            After the Timeout, Clark-Atlanta went on a 4-0 Scoring Run. Central State was penalized for a Traveling Violation too. From 14:55 to 13:02, the Panthers turned the ball over twice. The Marauders had 1-Turnover. The Marauders outscored the Panthers 5-2. CSU’s Akil Cornish hit a 3-Point Basket. Before a Media Timeout at 11:00, CSU outscored CAU 5-3. Cornish nailed another 3-Point Basket. Twice, Clark-Atlanta has obtained a lead of 8-Points. However, each time, Central State has managed to cut the lead down. The Marauders are preventing the Panthers from opening up a double-digit lead. After the Media Timeout, each team went on to commit 1-Turnover apiece. With 9:49 on the scoreboard, the Panthers picked up 2-Points. Then, CSU’s Hosie Smith, Jr. proceeded to go on a 4-0 Run. CAU now leads by 1-Point (20-19).

            With 8:43 on the clock, Clark-Atlanta turned the ball over. Central State followed that up with a 5-0 run. During the run, Cornish nailed a deep 3-Point Basket.  At 7:27, a Timeout was called.  After the Timeout, CAU went on to commit 2-Turnovers. Surprisingly, the Panthers managed to outscore the Marauders 6-3. Harper scored 4-Points. Smith picked up 3-Points.  With 3:38 remaining in the First Half, a Media Timeout was called. CSU leads CAU 27-26. Central State has fought back, and the Marauders have overcome the Panthers’ lead. However, the Marauders are in danger of giving up their lead. The First Half’s final 3:02 produced a flurry of activity. CAU outscored CSU 7-6. With no time remaining on the clock, CAU’s Tim Sanders made a 2-Point Basket. At the end of the First Half, the game is tied 33-33.

            At Halftime, this game is dead-even. For the Marauders, matters could have been much worse. On two occasions, the Panthers were close to opening up a double-digit lead. Central State kept that from occurring. Eventually, the Marauders obtained the lead. However, the Panthers briefly took it back. Then, CSU obtained it again. The Marauders’ lead went on to go as high as 4-Points. Clark-Atlanta cut the lead down. With no time left on the clock, CAU’s Tim Sanders tied the game up. After CSU turned the ball over, CAU’s James Arnold picked up the Second Half’s first points. He made a 2-Point Basket (19:31). At 19:09, Gilmore nailed a 3-Point Basket.  From 18:49 to 16:11, each team committed 2-Turnovers. CAU outscored CSU 8-5. With 15:48 on the scoreboard, a Media Timeout was called. The Panthers are holding on to a 2-Point Lead (43-41).

            This game is still FAST; PHYSICAL; & TIGHT. Neither team is able to create any type of wide separation. After the Timeout, the Panthers committed 2-Turnovers. The Marauders had 1-Turnover. CAU outscored CSU 4-2. At the 11:52 mark, a Media Timeout was called. From 11:17 to 7:48, Clark-Atlanta committed 3-Turnovers. Central State had 1-Turnover.  CSU outscored CAU 8-5. With 7:14 remaining in the game, a Media Timeout was called. At 5:44, the Panthers made a 2-Point Basket. After each team was penalized for a violation, CSU went on a 4-0 run. Once again, the Marauders have a 1-Point Lead (55-54). Their lead did not last long. From 4:33 to 2:51, CAU outscored CSU 6-3. With 2:24 on the clock, a Media Timeout was called. CAU possesses a 2-Point Lead (60-58).

            After the Media Timeout, Clark-Atlanta’s David Basil seemingly put the game away. He went on a 4-0 run. Both of his Field Goals were each a Slam Dunk. With 1:26 on the scoreboard, the Panthers turned the ball over. At 1:04, Gilmore made a 2-Point Basket. At the 50.1 Seconds mark, a Timeout was called. CAU leads Central State 64-60. For the remainder of the game, the Marauders would not score again. The Panthers ended the game on a 5-0 run. By the Final Score of 69-60, Clark-Atlanta defeated Central State. Although the Marauders lost this game, I am not worried about the team. Unlike the Lady Marauders possess, the Marauders do not have too many major issues. However, I have noticed one significant issue. Thus far in each of the Marauders’ Home Games, the team has a problem with maintaining a lead. As a result, CSU has been unable to properly finish a game. CSU has to learn how to close a game. All of the team’s home losses have been by 9-Points or less. Two of the three losses have been by exactly 2-Points. Once the Marauders learn how to stop allowing teams to stick around, they will be just fine. If that happens, leads will be safe.