JCSU HEADS TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WITH WIN OVER VIRGINIA UNION
February 29, 2008
Charlotte, NC - The Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University upset the top seed Virginia Union University in the 63rd Annual CIAA Men's Basketball Tournament with a 61-58 victory on Friday night in front of their hometown fans inside the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
The comparisons and similarities in this contest were somewhat eerie. Both teams came into these semi-finals match-up riding the wave a five-game streak (including tournament wins). The two schools split their regular season series (1-1), each winning at home. The Panthers won by 16 (77-61) on their home floor, and the Golden Bulls earned a victory at home by 14 (61-47).
Johnson C. Smith had two players selected to the CIAA All-Conference team (Jerry Hollis and Maurice Hooper) and so did Virginia Union (Brad Byerson and LaKeith Blanks). VUU averaged 79 points per game this season, while JCSU averaged 75.2 points per game. With the two teams almost mirror images of each other according to the numbers; it'd be interesting to see how the game would play out.
Johnson C. Smith stayed close to the Panthers early in the first half, not allowing the score to get beyond a two to three point difference. Until the 15:14 mark when Virginia Union created some distance with a 7-0 run that lasted a little over three and a half minutes. The Golden Bulls responded with a run of their own and eventually tied the score at 18 with 6:15 remaining in the half. Each squad remained poised heading towards halftime. However, VUU went into the locker room up 30-28.
The second half told much of the same story. This contest had seven ties, seven lead changes, and went down to the wire before a winner was decided. With 2:18 left to play, junior guard Ryan Scott hit a jumper to put JCSU up 59-55. After a couple free throws from both schools, the Panthers ended up being down 60-58 off a jumper from Brad Byerson. A clinch free throw from Golden Bulls' center David Sanders with three seconds remaining resulted in the final score, 61-58.
Senior guard Edmund Rainey led JCSU with 18 points and seven rebounds. Rainey was chosen as the Food Lion Most Valuable Player, despite fouling out towards the end of the game.
The Byerson trio accounted for 50 of the teams total 58 points in this contest. 2008 CIAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-CIAA senior forward Brad Byerson had 21 points and 12 rebounds; sophomore guard Brandon Byerson pitched in 18 points; and freshman guard Braxton Byerson finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
Johnson C. Smith will face the Broncos of Fayetteville State University in the Championship Game on Saturday at 8 pm inside the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. This game will be a championship rematch from their 2001 overtime match-up where the Golden Bulls came out victorious.