THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 14, 1996 TAG: 9601110177
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
PLAYING IN JUST their second home game of the season, the Elizabeth City State University men's basketball team showed a marked improvement over their first home game over a month ago.
Sharano Woodley, a reserve forward, had a surprise start last Sunday and made the most of it.
He scored 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Vikings to an 83-74 win over CIAA opponent Johnson C. Smith.
ECSU head coach Barry Hamler improved his home record to 1-1.
``Woodley is one of the best athletes I have ever seen,'' Hamler said after the game. ``When God was handing out hearts, he gave Sharano a big one.''
Woodley was starting in place of Maurice Mincey, who was benched for violation of team rules.
In ECSU's previous win over Barton College, Mincey led the team in scoring with 27 points.
Now Hamler has found out he has two forwards he can rely on in the clutch.
The Vikings opened up a big lead in the first half. With the Vikings leading just 8-6 with 17:56 to go in the half, Woodley began ECSU's move with a 3-pointer to up the lead to 11-6. Anthony Harris followed with a jumper off a pass from Adrian Bell and Bernard Cooper grabbed a rebound and hit a jumper with 16:32 to play to give the Vikings a 15-6 lead.
J.C. Smith cut the ECSU lead to 37-30 on a layup and free throw by Ahmed Evans with 1:55 left in the half.
The Vikings, though, went on a 7-1 run late in the half, which included free throws by Walter Wright and Harris, and a layup by Wright.
The Vikings increased the lead early in the second half. A 10-2 run early on increased the margin to 54-36.
With 18:00 to play Cooper grabbed a rebound, hit a short jumper, and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but Harris grabbed the rebound and put back his own jumper and was fouled. Harris converted the free throw to put ECSU up 48-34.
After a bucket by JCSU's Evans, Theron Curry followed with a 3-pointer and Woodley punctuated the run with a slam at 16:55.
The Vikings looked like they would cruise the rest of the way, but Cooper got into foul trouble and the Broncos were able to cut the Viking lead down to 68-60 on a layup by William Hadden with 7:24 to play.
After Cooper fouled out, the Vikings put together a short run that finished off JCSU. Woodley converted two free throws and followed with a short jumper with 3:35 to play to up the lead to 76-61.
Hamler was happy with the Vikings team effort.
Harris finished with 17 points, Wright and Cooper both scored 12 points, and Curry added 11 points for ECSU. Bell had seven assists.
``We'll be very successful if we play as a team,'' he noted. ``Through the whole 40 minutes, this is the best game we played defensively. We contained (Melvin) Abrams (JCSU's leading scorer). Sharano and Adrian both played him.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ECSU head coach Barry Hamler improved his home record to 1-1.
by CNB