ETSU’s men’s basketball team fought tooth and nail against UNC-Greensboro on Feb. 27, the Bucs’ last game before the Southern Conference tournament. However, they were unable to prevail in overtime.
The game was tied 69-69 at the end of the second half, but UNCG took the upper hand in overtime, defeating the Bucs by the final score of 85-74.
“In the overtime… we didn’t find the extra give in us, the extra push to be persistent and pull out the win like we are supposed to,” said center Silas Adheke (Lagos, Nigeria). “I know we have it in us, but we didn’t do that in overtime.”
ETSU came out with the first three-pointer in overtime, but UNCG returned fire with two three-pointers, which leaned momentum and power onto their side.
“The momentum shifted quickly to their end, and we couldn’t score after that,” said ETSU head coach Jason Shay. “The wind went out of our sails on that second three.”
The news recently surrounding ETSU’s basketball team taking a knee during the national anthem has brought an abundance of attention to the team.
Before the game, a Black Lives Still Matter rally organized by Kemp Faneto was held outside of Freedom Hall. According to WJHL, roughly 75 people gathered to kneel in solidarity with the men’s basketball team. Counter protesters were also present.
“Regardless of whatever is going on off the court we still have to stay focused and come in every day and do our job,” Adheke said. “That’s what it means to be a student-athlete.”
There have been various reactions in the community and beyond to the team’s decision to kneel. Adheke said the negative reactions were not what he expected.
“Because that wasn’t our intention to disrespect our veterans or the flag,” Adheke said. “We love our veterans, we respect the American flag. We were taken out of context, we were making awareness for social injustice and inequality in our society, be it Johnson City or anywhere else.”
Heading into the SoCon conference championship starting March 6 for the men’s teams in Asheville, North Carolina, the team is preparing with a strong-willed outlook.
“If we go up there and do what we are capable of doing, we can definitely get this championship,” said senior forward Vonnie Patterson (Louisville, Kentucky). “For us, we just want to get this championship, so that’s what we are working for this whole week coming up and just trying to focus towards that.”
