In what was a efficient offensive display, the Rams (8-6, 5-3 MEC) knocked off the Golden Eagles of the University of Charleston 102-74 Tuesday evening in the Butcher Center.
While the Golden Eagles were able to put up respectable numbers offensively, they simply did not have enough gas in the tank to keep up with the Rams’ high-powered offense.
The Rams came out firing, shooting 57.14 percent from the field in the first half of action. They were to stretch the Golden Eagles’ defense with their arsenal of three-point shooters. Junior guard Steffen Davis (7-14 FG, 27 points) and junior forward AJ Carr (8-14 FG, 23 points, eight rebounds) of the Rams both put on a show from three-point territory, making five three-pointers a piece. Davis led all scorers with his 27 points.
Senior guard Naim Muhammad attacks the basket.
With a 32-point performance from the reserves, the Golden Eagles were not able to overcome their defensive mistakes to cut into the Rams’ growing lead.
Charleston fought hard to get back into the game, but where they performed in two key areas really determined their fate in this game: second chance and fast break points. Shepherd won the second chance department 14-9. Most of the possessions for the Golden Eagles either ended in a one-and-done scenario or they were unable to convert when given a second chance scoring opportunity. Generating zero points off fast breaks did not help their cause as well, as they proved unable to penetrate the Rams’ defense in this aspect of the game.
Despite the victory, LeJavius Johnson and Elliot Cole of the Golden Eagles did prove to be challenging for the Rams to tangle with, as they each had 17 points. Another Golden Eagle, Justin Coleman, fought hard all night long, finishing with a double-double that consisted of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Junior guard Skylar Roman of the Rams contributed to the scoring onslaught with his 13 points. Senior guard Naim Muhammad was another scoring threat, finishing with 12 points. He and his teammate, junior forward AJ Carr, led all players with five assists.
Junior forward Gavin McTavish penetrates the Golden Eagles’ defense.
For the game, the Golden Eagles shot 43.9 percent, going 7-of-23 from three-point range. They struggled a bit at the foul line, shooting 17 of 25. Their shooting was not up to par with the Rams, which led to the Rams’ victory.
The Rams shot 56.7 percent for the game, lighting up the scoreboard with their impressive 16-of-30 performance from downtown. When they got to the foul line, the Rams shot 18-of-21, helping to increase their lead even further.
The Rams hit the court next when they square off against Urbana in a road contest Saturday that begins at 4 p.m.
Anthony Bracken is the Sports Editor of The Picket. He can be reached at abrack02@rams.shepherd.edu