Wilberforce Wins Shootout

            I must be honest. I am not going to lie. I am still shocked about Wilberforce University’s (WU) Windy City Hardwood Classic victory over Kentucky State University (KSU). I did not expect the winning outcome. Furthermore, I did not expect the game to go into Overtime Play. When the Bulldogs exited Chicago, Illinois, I fully expected them to leave as losers. The Thorobreds of KSU is always a difficult challenge for the Central State University (CSU) Marauders. Whenever KSU and CSU play against one another in a basketball game, one issue can always be expected to take place. CSU can obtain close victories at Home (in Beacom-Lewis Gymnasium – BLG). Whenever the games are away from BLG, the Marauders can be counted on to lose. For the last couple of years, CSU has defeated KSU (in BLG). When the Marauders have traveled to the Thorobreds’ Home Facility, they lose. For me to compare CSU’s rivalry with KSU to that of WU’s rivalry with KSU, I am being completely unfair. Each rivalry is separate from the other. While both may share some similarities, they have to be analyzed from two totally different perspectives. CSU’s issues with KSU are not the same as WU’s issues with KSU. By defeating the Thorobreds, the Bulldogs have opened up my eyes. Furthermore, I am now forced to directly take notice of the Bulldogs’ on-court attributes.

            This past Tuesday (November 17, 2015), WU earned a commanding victory over Brescia University (92-64). The Bulldogs are looking like a very strong team to contend with. By now, you should know. If you regularly follow my columns, you know exactly what I am about to say. During The 2015-2016 Season, WU’s Men’s Basketball Team will play The CSU Marauders. Usually, the Marauders can be counted on to pick up the victory (whenever the two teams play one another). However, I firmly believe that this year will be quite different. Whether anyone wants to believe it or not, WU is a true threat to CSU! This season, the Marauders cannot be automatically counted on to defeat the Bulldogs. This is exactly how I feel. The two teams will split the season’s two-game series. Each team will win on its Home Court. Inside of The Alumni Multiplex, the Bulldogs look completely unbeatable! For the Marauders to go into the Bulldogs’ House and obtain a victory, that process WILL NOT be easy whatsoever! Tonight (Thursday, November 19, 2015) is a different day. Until late into the season, WU and CSU do not have to worry about one another. Tonight, the Alice Lloyd University (ALU) Eagles are the Bulldogs’ only concern. The Eagles stand in the way of WU obtaining another “Home Victory.”

            Alice Lloyd has the height advantage. The Eagles’ Roster contains four players who are 6 Feet 8 Inches or taller. ALU won the game’s tip-off. The Eagles quickly opened up a 4-0 lead. Tyler Rogers and Trevor Tiller each made a 2-Point Basket. From 19:01 to 16:44, Wilberforce went on a 7-0 Scoring Run. Arthur Haggard, III scored 5-Points. At the 16:07 mark, ALU’s Tiller stopped the run. He successfully made 1-Free Throw Attempt. After WU’s Patrick Mitchell intercepts a pass, the Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run (15:19 to 14:26). Haggard nailed another 3-Point Basket. Michael Forrest made a 2-Point Basket. From 14:09 to 13:26, ALU went on a 4-0 run. Before a Timeout at 12:42, WU’s Forrest and Latron Nelson each hit a 3-Point Basket. By the score of 18-9, WU led ALU. The Eagles came out fast. In the process, they earned an early 4-0 Lead. However, the Bulldogs have awakened. Now, WU has taken control of the game. For WU, the 3-Point Shot has been deadly!

            From 12:07 to 9:25, ALU outscored WU 9-4. Near the 10:52 mark, the teams traded blocks at the basket. The Eagles committed an Offensive Foul (10:20). However, that foul did not hurt the team. After that foul took place, ALU went on a 4-0 run (9:51 to 9:25). With 9:22 on the clock, a Timeout was called. The Bulldogs’ lead was now only 4-Points (22-18). By the use of speed, ALU is taking back control of the game. Also, the Eagles are controlling the pace-of-the-game too. Not even 2:00 after the Timeout, the Bulldogs nailed two 3-Point Baskets. Mitchell is solely responsible for both conversions. At 7:29, Mitchell was back at it. He made a 2-Point Basket. During the process, he was fouled. After he made 1-Foul Shot, WU led the game 31-19.

            At 6:22, a Timeout was called. ALU’s last 4-Points were the results of Free Throw Attempts. Thus far, this game has been a game of back-and-forth control. Now, WU has taken control and built a double-digit lead. With 6:00 remaining in the First Half, Mitchell was attacking the basket. As he went up for a shot, ALU’s Defense knocked the ball right out of the air. Sixteen seconds later (5:44), the Eagles’ Zach Norwood made a 2-Point Basket. From 5:17 to 4:23, the game became very messy. ALU committed 3-Turnovers. WU committed 2-Turnovers. During that time span, the only points scored were by WU’s Devontae Berry. He made a 2-Point Basket (4:58). From 3:43 to 2:33, each team scored 4-Points. The Bulldogs obtained 2-Steals. After the Bulldogs turned the ball over, WU was back at it again. At 1:36 and 1:07, Forrest and Haggard each nailed a 3-Point Basket.

            As the First Half came to a close, ALU went on a 4-0 run. At the end of the First Half, WU led ALU 45-36. The First Half has been a constant occurrence of momentum changes. Eventually, WU gained control of the momentum. The Bulldogs built a double-digit lead. Every time ALU was looking like it was making a comeback, WU went on to end any comeback attempt. The Bulldogs would hit a 3-Point Basket, or make some other type of positive move. ALU is having trouble stopping WU’s excessive use of the 3-Point Basket. The Bulldogs have found great success with it. As far as extending the Bulldogs’ lead goes, the 3-Point Basket has been quite effective. As the Second Half got underway, WU started with possession of the ball. The Bulldogs passed the ball around. It ended up in the hands of Maxime Maisonnet. He made a 2-Point Basket. WU led ALU 47-36.

            From 19:05 to 17:33, Haggard was on fire. He scored 7-Points. His points included another 3-Point Basket too. Beginning at 17:25 and ending at 14:23, ALU closed the gap. The Eagles went on an 11-2 run. With 14:14 on the clock, a Full Timeout was called. In order to get back into this game, ALU is utilizing a combination of size and speed. Shortly after the Timeout (13:47), the Eagles’ Tyler Rogers made a Monster Slam Dunk. The Bulldogs’ lead was cut to 3-Points (56-53). By nailing a 3-Point Basket, Mitchell responded. After ALU outscored WU 6-1, WU’s lead stood at only 1-Point (60-59). At this point, I noticed something which had been occurring. The Eagles are blocking a lot of shots. Their size advantage is allowing this to happen. The Bulldogs had enough. Led by Haggard’s 4-Points, WU went on a 6-0 run. That run extended WU’s lead to 7-Points (66-59).

            The Bulldogs’ 7-Point lead did not last too long. After the Eagles’ 8-2 run, WU’s lead over ALU was only 1-Point (68-67). Once again after the Eagles got so close, the Bulldogs separated themselves from them. ALU’s Offense turned the ball over three times. WU outscored ALU 4-0. With 5:21 remaining in the game, ALU’s Tiller nailed a 3-Point Basket. At the 5:20 mark, a Timeout was called. WU led ALU 72-70. Once again, the Bulldogs separated themselves (from the Eagles). After going on an 8-0 run, WU’s lead was now 10-Points (80-70). During the final 1:03, ALU outscored WU 4-2. However, that was not enough. The Eagles were not going to be able to win the game. By the Final Score of 82-74, the WU Bulldogs won the game. This game was a shootout. It could have gone either way. However, the Bulldogs managed to find a way to come out on top.