DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997                 TAG: 9703020246

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.               LENGTH:   23 lines

ST. AUG'S WINS TITLE

St. Augustine's ended two droughts Saturday night.

The Falcons won their first CIAA tournament championship and gave the Southern Division its first title in 20 years with a 70-64 victory over Fayetteville State before a crowd of 9,751 at Lawrence Joel Coliseum. St. Aug's had appeared in six previous title games.

The Falcons (23-7) led 54-33 with 10:24 remaining. But as it had against Elizabeth City State in the semifinals, St. Augustine's let the opposition back in the game.

Fayetteville State (15-14) went on a 20-4 run to cut the deficit to 58-53 with 3:15 left. However, Chris Elliott made an assist with 1:48 that gave the Falcons all the momentum they needed to maintain the lead.

Elliott got a steal, came down on a fastbreak, tossed the ball off the glass and teammate Bernard Heard went soaring in for the dunk and a 62-53 lead.

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