The Bucs seven-game winning streak ended Monday night at the hands of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in a 77-67 loss at the Spartans’ Fleming Gym.
The Bucs’ (12-8, 7-2) winning streak was not the only thing they lost Monday night. The Bucs also lost sole possession of first place in the Southern Conference North Division, which they now share with the Spartans (13-7, 7-2).
The Bucs were down by as many as 16 points in the first half, but battled back with a 20-4 run covering both halves to take the lead, 44-43, off of a layup by freshman point guard Sam Oatman with 15:28 left in the game.
Oatman and senior D.J. McDuffie had to share point guard duties due to starting point guard Cliff Decoster’s ankle sprain, which he suffered in the Appalachian State game on Saturday. Decoster was limited to only three minutes of action Monday.
Head Coach Ed DeChellis, however, believed one of the keys to the loss was the Bucs inability to get to the free-throw line, and their allowance of the Spartans there too often.
“They shoot 40 free throws and we only hit eight of 14,” he said. “We didn’t get the ball inside and drive it enough. We settled for too many shots.”
The Bucs’ final lead of the game came with 5:48 remaining off a McDuffie layup that put the Bucs up 60-58. They only hit two field goals the rest of the game.
“We just didn’t play smart when we had the lead with six minutes left,” DeChellis said. “We didn’t get much off the bench and no one else seemed to step up.”
The Spartans hit 14 free throws in the final 4:20, the same amount the Bucs attempted the entire game, to hold on for the victory and gain a share of first place in the North Division.
The Bucs were led by senior Renaldo Johnson, who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite the loss, the Bucs also received solid play from sophomore Ryan Lawson, who contributed 12 points, and from Oatman and McDuffie, who combined for 14 points, six assists and four steals sharing point guard duties.
The Spartans were led by Courtney Eldridge and Ronnie Talyor with 17 points apiece.
The Bucs return home Saturday afternoon for a showdown with Western Carolina at Memorial Center with the tip-off set for 3 p.m.
ETSU will play five of its final seven games at home, including a rematch with UNC-Greensboro Feb. 13.
“We’ve got some games at home coming up,” DeChellis said.
“We still control our own destiny.
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