Late Run Sparks Aggies Past Rams; N.C A&T Downs Winston-Salem State 68-61 Christopher Zona 02/21/09 Close contest decided by 13-1 run late in the second half of play GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina A&T State University Aggies used a 13-1 run in the late-stages of the second half of play as they turned a one-point deficit into an 11-point advantage en route to completing the season sweep of the Winston-Salem State University Rams with a 68-61 victory on Saturday at the Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, N.C. The first half of play started innocently enough as the Aggies and the Rams both found it difficult to put the ball in the basket as the two teams combined to miss 17 of their first 22 shots from the field. The Rams would start three for their first 11 from the field, including an 0-3 shooting display from leading scorer Brian Fisher, during the game’s first five minutes of play. Not to be outdone, the Aggies would miss nine of their first 11 shots from the field headed into the first media timeout with 13:50 to play in the opening period. Despite the shooting woes the Rams found a way, through aggressive defense and an offensive spark provided by junior guard Brian Fisher and freshman Jamarcus McClinton, to lead by five points at halftime 31-26. The Rams, leading by five points, fell victim to a hostile environment of 5,700 fans, a standing-room-only crowd at the Corbett sports Center, that amplified every play on the court as key turnovers proved costly for WSSU as North Carolina A&T mounted their game-changing run. Leading by two points, at 47-45, with 8:02 to play in the contest, the Aggies capitalized on a trio of WSSU turnovers and three misses from three-point range as N.C. A&T burst out for a 13-1 run over a span of three minutes that put the game out of reach. A late WSSU rally cut the lead to only seven points, the game’s final margin, but the damage was done as the Rams were handed their 18th loss of the season. Leading the way for the Rams in the loss was Brian Fisher who tied a season-high with 25 points. Fisher was joined in double-figres by Jamarcus McClinton who tallied 14 points. The loss drops the Rams to 7-18 on the season and pushes WSSU’s losing streak to two games. The victory moves North Carolina A&T to 14-13 on the season (7-5 MEAC). Winston-Salem State returns to action on Monday, Feb. 23 at 8:00 p.m. as they travel to Norfolk, Va. to face the Spartans of Norfolk State University in WSSU’s final road game of the season.