JCSU Golden Bulls struggle, but put LU Lions away

J.C. Smith's rusty, but resilient.

The Golden Bulls won their sixth straight game Wednesday with a 69-61 CIAA victory against Lincoln (Pa.) at Grady Cole Center. Smith (8-4, 4-0 CIAA) struggled to put the Lions away in a game that was postponed from Monday because of weather.

Ultimately, the backcourt combination of Trevin Parks (29 points) and James Otey (17 points) were enough to compensate for Ronald Thornhill's 0-for-6 shooting and Lincoln's (1-9, 0-3) upset bid.

JCSU Men Slip Past Lincoln, Women Improve to 10-0

Sparked by Trevin Parks and James Otey, Johnson C. Smith withstood a furious comeback to defeat Lincoln (Pa.) in a CIAA contest at Grady Cole Center in Charlotte Wednesday.

Parks scored 29 points, including 16 in the second half, and Otey added 17 points for the Golden Bulls (8-4, 4-0), who built up a lead as large as 19 points (42-23) in the first half. They settled for a 42-26 halftime lead after getting 13 points from Parks and 12 from Otey in that first half.

Women: Johnson C. Smith 68, Lincoln (Pa.) 57

Overcoming poor field goal shooting with tenacious defense, the Golden Bulls stayed perfect on the season by downing the Lady Lions.

JCSU scored 25 points off 28 Lincoln turnovers and also had 21 second-chance points, courtesy of a 23-11 edge in offensive rebounding.

LaQwesha Gamble led the Golden Bulls (10-0, 3-0) with 12 points. Shakeena Cunningham and Shavonda Price each had 11 points, while Brittane Neely grabed 10 rebounds.

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WSSU has experience, depth to challenge for league title

Now that Winston-Salem State is back in a conference, its challenge will be withstanding the day-to-day grind. That’s what the Rams will face in the ultra-competitive CIAA.

Coach Bobby Collins, who will enter his fifth season, said he doesn’t care that his Rams were picked to finish first in the Southern Division in the preseason poll. He has six seniors, two juniors and several talented newcomers on a team that should fit nicely in the CIAA after a four-year absence.

WSSU women have nowhere to go but up in Joyner's first season as coach

“Nowhere to go but up.” That’s the outlook for Coach Steve Joyner Jr. and his women’s team at Winston-Salem State. Joyner takes over for Dee Stokes, whose team hit rock bottom last season and finished 2-28 after losing its last 26 games. Going from a Division I schedule back to the Division II CIAA doesn’t guarantee an easier time this season, but there’s still optimism spilling over.

“I know it’s going to be competitive, and some say it might be easier because we are coming down from the MEAC, but it’s not going to be easy,” senior center Vontisha Woods said, “but I think we can compete.” Joyner, 30 and a head coach for the first time, will build around three seniors and some newcomers.

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Hampton leads JCSU basketball class‎

The Golden Bulls JUCO transfer, Terrell Barrett is a rugged 6-6/225 athletic player who has a Division-I body, possesses the ability to put it on the floor, post up and shoot from beyond the arc. The All-Panhandle conference player also made the conference All-Academic Team. Barrett originally signed with Gardner-Webb University out of high school, a NCAA Division I, Big South Conference program.


Johnson C. Smith's basketball overhaul has seven new parts.

The biggest prize in the class of seven signees is Providence High forward Terrance Hampton, who averaged 22.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a senior. Hampton, 6-6, was the fourth Providence player to break the 1,000-point barrier with 1,115. He played in the Charlotte Pro-Am All-Star Classic and was named MVP in the Lindberg Moody Holiday Classic. Hampton also earned All-District honors from the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association. “We expect Hampton to be one of our instant contributors,” Golden Bulls coach Steve Joyner said in a statement. “He has good size, scoring ability, and awareness in the low post; he has the potential to be All-CIAA.”

JCSU recruited frontcourt help, adding Zachary O’Brien from Watchung Hills (N.J.) Regional High, Terrell Barrett of Farmville Central, Antwan Wilkerson of Western Guilford and Robert Williams of Sandy Creek (Ga.) High. The Bulls signed guards Richard Daniels from Winston-Salem Carver and Charlotte transfer Trevin Parks. Barrett (6-6, 225) is transferring from Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College, where he was all-conference for two consecutive seasons. He averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in his senior season at Farmville Central.

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