Mikell’s magic extends streak
The GCSU men’s basketball team ran its winning streak to six games in the most exciting finish of the season Wednesday, when it beat Columbus State University in an away game.
The Bobcats came into the first half with an aggressive mindset and had an 8-0 lead over the Cougars when Columbus State turned the game around. The Cougars went on a 12-0 run, to surge ahead 12-8 with 14:03 remaining in the first half.
Once Columbus State gained the lead over the Bobcats, it was able to keep the lead over GCSU for the entire first half, which ended with the Bobcats trailing the Cougars 39-28.
When the second half began, the Bobcats went on an 11-point run and tied the score at 39 when senior point guard Ty Rowland drained a 3-pointer with 16:52 remaining.
The Cougars took the lead over the Bobcats again and held it until a 3-pointer by junior point guard Andre Mikell gave the Bobcats a 48-45 lead.
From there, the lead went back and forth until, with nine seconds, remaining the score was tied 60-60. Shortly after, a Columbus State player was fouled and made one of the free throws, giving the Cougars a 61-60 lead over the Bobcats with just three seconds remaining on the clock.
Mikell took the inbounds pass, dribbled across halfcourt and launched a heavily contested 3-pointer, which he drained for the game winner, a Bobcat 63-61 victory.
The Bobcats played their first home game of 2010 a week earlier, a Wednesday night home game against Georgia Southwestern State and defeated the Hurricanes 80-42.
When the game started, GCSU was quick to get ahead and never gave up the lead over Southwestern.
The Bobcats continued to dominate the Hurricanes and the blowout was on when a 3-pointer nailed by senior Jake Rios made the score 37-15 in favor of GCSU.
When just 25 seconds left in the half, Mikell drained a two-point jumper to end the first half score at 45-16 in GCSU’s favor.
When the second half began, GCSU continued to dominate over Southwestern.
With 17:04 left in the game, the Bobcats secured a 30-point lead when an Aquino layup to set the score at 49-19.
GCSU did not let up as junior forward Reece Wiedeman made a layup with 7:49 remaining that put the Bobcats ahead of the Hurricanes by 40 at 68-28.
The Bobcats earned such a huge lead over Southwestern that head coach Terry Sellers gave every player on the GCSU bench an opportunity to play.
“Not many games in the Peach Belt end up being that big of a point spread,” Sellers said. “It’s great to have games where you can play every guy on the bench.”
GCSU kept its lead and the game ended in a Bobcat victory with the final score of 80-42.
The Bobcats claimed their second victory of 2010 when they traveled to face Armstrong Atlantic this past Saturday and defeated the Pirates 75-65.
GCSU came into the game aggressive and was quick to take control over Armstrong Atlantic.
Not letting up, the Bobcats gained a 20-point lead when Rowland drained a 3-pointer with less 10 minutes remaining in the first, making the score 30-10 in favor of GCSU.
The Bobcats were able to keep the lead over the Pirates and the first half ended with the score 45-30 in favor of GCSU.
When the second half began the Bobcats continued to play in their aggressive state and continued to dominate over Armstrong Atlantic.
The Bobcats earned a 17-point lead with 2:18 left in the game when a layup by Rowland gave GCSU a 72-55 lead over the Pirates.
Over the entire second half, GCSU did not lose the lead to the Pirates a single time and the game ended in a Bobcat win with the final score of 76-65.
GCSU played a total of five games over the Christmas break, which were all played on the road, winning four of them.
The Bobcats faced Newberry College on Dec. 15 and defeated the Indians 77-76.
On Dec. 29, GCSU took its only loss of the break to Wingate University with the score of 73-66.
GCSU got back on in its winning streak when they dominated Voorhees College on Dec. 30 and defeated the Tigers 88-45.
Coming into 2010, the Bobcats won their first game of the new year as they earned a victory over Lander on Jan. 4, 74-56.
The Bobcats brought their winning streak up to three when they faced Clayton State on Jan. 9 and defeated the Lakers 69-50.
The Bobcats are on the road to face Montevallo on Saturday.
“I think this time of year is key for everyone to be on the same page. Mikell said. “Eventually we’ll play bigger teams we just have to give back some effort and we keep getting better everyday.”
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