Wilberforce Continues To Protect Home

            Each time the Wilberforce University (WU) Men’s Basketball Team takes the court at The Alumni Multiplex (AM), I highly-anticipate the start of the game. Tonight (Tuesday, January 12, 2015) is no different. In the ensuing game, Wilberforce will be facing off against the Fisk University (FU) Bulldogs. Which team will win this Bulldogs vs. Bulldogs Matchup? I cannot answer that question. Only God knows what the eventual outcome will be. However, I do know one thing. In this building (AM), WU is UNDEFEATED. In order for any team to come in here and adequately compete, that is an extremely difficult process. Up until this very moment in time, no team has been able to conquer the process. No team has gotten over the hump. If a team can put two, near-perfect halves together, then said team might be able to hand WU its first Home Loss. Of course, that would require Wilberforce to be totally off of its game. All of that can be easier said than done. At home, WU has displayed a very unique aspect. No matter what type of style their opponents present, the WU Bulldogs are always able to successfully counter it. Until an opposing team manages to make that not be in existence, no team will walk into The AM and leave victorious.

            Wilberforce University won the game’s tip-off. At 19:41, Devontae Berry made a 2-Point Basket. Patrick Mitchell soon picked up a Steal. With 19:00 on the clock, Arthur Haggard, III nailed a 3-Point Basket. WU took a 5-0 lead. At the 18:46 mark, Fisk University finally got onto the scoreboard. Fisk made a 2-Point Basket. After 1-Turnover by each team, Berry found himself at the basket. After receiving the ball, he picked up 2-Points. A short time later (17:30), FU’s Michael Vardaman hit a 3-Point Basket. Less than one minute later (16:39), Wilberforce’s Keenen Smith made a 3-Point Basket. From 16:08 to 14:28, WU committed 2-Turnovers. Fisk went on an 8-2 Scoring Run. Montez Singleton scored 5-Points. FU now possessed a 1-Point Lead (13-12).

            Fisk’s lead did not last long. In fact, it lasted exactly 23-Seconds. At 14:05, Wilberforce’s Malik Breckenridge nailed a 3-Point Basket. After FU committed a Traveling Violation, WU’s Michael Forrest hit a 3-Point Basket. With 13:28 on the clock, a Full Timeout was called. Wilberforce led Fisk 18-13. Thus far, this game has been all about the 3-Point Basket. Both teams are using it to its advantage. However, Wilberforce is ahead. For a short time, Fisk had the lead. From 12:58 to 12:17, WU committed 3-Turnovers. FU committed 1-Turnover. Then, each team made a 3-Point Basket (Wilberforce: Forrest and Fisk: Vardaman).  After Wilberforce turned the ball over again, Fisk’s Leonard Hall picked up 2-Points. With 10:57 on the scoreboard, Mitchell hit a 3-Point Basket. Then, FU’s Magic Harris made a 2-Point Basket. FU trailed WU by 4-Points (24-20).

            From 10:07 to 7:46, each team committed 2-Turnovers. Fisk went on a 4-0 run. Nathan Mungo nailed a 3-Point Basket. The game is now tied 24-24. With 7:46 remaining in the First Half, a Full Timeout was called. This game has been extremely fun to watch. I almost feel like just lying down my pen and closing my notebook. However, I cannot do that. Wilberforce is fun to watch. In fact, both teams are fun to watch. Any basketball fan would love this game. This game is a Sports Journalist’s “DREAM COME TRUE.” At 7:25, Fisk’s Defense made a Block. As one of Wilberforce’s players went up, his Shot Attempt was blocked. The ball went out of bounds. Wilberforce maintained possession.

            From 7:18 to 5:27, scoring was fairly close. Wilberforce outscored Fisk 6-5. WU made a 3-Point Basket. Mungo completed a 3-Point Play. With 6:14 remaining in the First Half, Singleton made a spectacular play. As the Shot Clock was about to expire, he just threw up the ball. While doing that, Singleton was falling down. The ball went through the net. FU picked up 2-Points. With 5:27 remaining in the First Half, WU leads FU 30-29. WU went on to outscore FU 8-5. At the 1:49 mark, a Timeout was called. Both teams are neck-and-neck. Neither team can create separation, and obtain a distinct advantage. At 59.6 Seconds, Berry made a 2-Point Basket. FU ended up turning the ball over (12.1 Seconds). With 0.3 Seconds remaining in the First Half, Forrest attempted a 3-Point Shot. His attempt was no good. However, he was fouled. After Forrest successfully converted all 3-Foul Shots, Wilberforce took a 9-Point Lead (43-34). At the end of the First Half, Wilberforce leads Fisk 43-34.

            I need to stop possessing preconceived notions. Once the game would start, I thought that Wilberforce would easily pull away. To this point, no team has been able to hang with Wilberforce in this building. However, I was very wrong. Fisk has done an excellent job of remaining close to Wilberforce. Fisk has kept this game very entertaining. The 3-Point Basket has become an “On-Court Party.” At one point, it seemed like both teams were only taking 3-Point Shot Attempts. For the half, Wilberforce was 7 of 17 from 3-Point Range. Fisk was 4 of 14 from 3-Point Range. Thus far, WU’s Arthur Haggard, III has been rather quiet. He has 5-Points. From 3-Point Range, The 3-Point King is only 1 of 5. As the Second Half got underway, Wilberforce had possession of the ball. At 19:48, Forrest missed a 2-Point Basket. He was positioned at the hoop.

            At 19:16, Fisk University’s Chris Pollard made a 2-Point Basket. Sixteen seconds later (19:00), Berry picked up 2-Points. After each team committed 1-Turnover, Mitchell went on a 5-0 Scoring Run. Going into a Timeout at 15:33, Wilberforce University led FU 50-36. Wilberforce is beginning to separate itself from Fisk. Wilberforce possesses a 14-Point Lead (50-36). Coming out of the Timeout, WU proceeded to go on a 7-0 run. With 13:32 on the clock, FU committed a Turnover (Offensive Foul).  Twenty-five seconds later (13:07), Fisk ended Wilberforce’s run. Vardaman made a 2-Point Basket. After WU’s John McCants picked up 2-Points, Vardaman made another 2-Point Basket. At the 12:24 mark, WU possessed a 19-Point Lead (59-40).  From 12:02 to 10:15, WU committed 3-Turnovers. FU committed 2-Turnovers. Forrest nailed a 3-Point Basket. Mungo made 2-Foul Shots. WU leads FU 62-42.

            From 9:44 to 8:34, Wilberforce outscored Fisk 6-1. Berry scored 4-Points. At the 8:24 mark, a Full Timeout was called. Wilberforce has a 25-Point Lead (68-43). It seems like every shot which Wilberforce takes is going through the net. At this point, they are not missing many shots. With 7:47 remaining in the game, Breckenridge nailed a 3-Point Basket. Fisk’s Leonard Hall soon completed a 3-Point Play (7:25). During the game’s final 6:56, WU committed 3-Turnovers. FU committed 2-Turnovers (including an Intentional/Flagrant Foul). Fisk went on an Offensive Tear. Fisk outscored Wilberforce 16-5. Fisk University’s Scoring Run was just too little, too late. Fisk ran out of time. Wilberforce had a victory under control. By the Final Score of 76-63, Wilberforce defeated Fisk. With the victory, Wilberforce University’s Undefeated Home Winning Streak remains alive! Will it ever end? I do not know. However, it does not seem like it will ever end. For any team to defeat Wilberforce in The Alumni Multiplex, it is going to take a “Herculean Effort.”