Defense keys rout of Bluefield
In front of a packed Homecoming house Saturday, Nov. 7, at Paul Dana Walker Arena, the men’s basketball team continued their up-tempo offensive show, blazing past head coach Tommy Brown’s former squad the Bluefield College Ramblin’ Rams (Va.), 87-66.
The Flames (2-1) entered the day first in the SSAC in the offensive categories of scoring and rebounding, averaging 103 points per game and averaging 20 offensive rebounds per game, and they certainly did not let up on the mark.
Four Flames scored in double figures as Rodney Spruill, Jerel Blocker and Stephen McClellan all totaled 12 points. Josh Nofflet continued his strong output on the season with 19 points, scoring the Flames’ first 8 points of the game.
“We really have no offensive game plan; all of us can play,” junior forward Rodney Spruill said. “Our game plan was better defense and to contest every shot.”
For the second straight game, the men were plagued by a tale of two halves, giving up uncontested big shots in the first half and only leading 40-38 entering halftime, but a huge Desmond Blue swat cued the runaway for the Flames’ second half run and their second straight victory to start the season.
“We got a whole lot of depth and we are a whole lot better,” Nofflet said. “We picked up great on defense and we’re starting to realize where we are as a team.”
The men entered the day last in the SSAC in scoring defense, averaging 102 points given up, and second to last in turnover margin, averaging almost five more turnovers than their previous opponents. Defense may have been the deciding factor, though, holding the Rams to just 66 points and forcing 12 turnovers.
“Defense definitely stepped it up today,” freshman guard Brice Sharp said. “Communication was most important, and defensively we were getting good looks.”
The Rams’ 66 points were the lowest given up by the men so far this year.
The Flames continue their home stretch of games against Bryan College (Tenn.) in Walker Arena on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
