Shaw NESTED BY HAWKS
Bears’ Strong Second Half a Tad Bit Tardy

January 5, 2002 – Murfreesboro, NC – The Shaw University Bears hit the highway to hustle on the hardwood against the Hawks of Chowan University. The Bears magnificently minimized a 22 point deficit to a little as one point and “super shrunk” Chowan’s 70% first half field goal percentage to 29.2% in the second half. Furthermore, Shaw outscored the Hawks 44 – 36 in the second half of play. However, the Hawks held on with four free-throw conversions in the closing seconds to take the home court victory, 90 – 86.

The tip-off was tapped into the hands of #34 John Kornegay (Guard / 5 – 10 / Senior / Detroit, MI) as preseason All-CIAA selection #30 Damola Obadina (Forward / 6 – 5 / Senior / Minneapolis, MN) scored Shaw’s first two points on the second possession. However, the home team jumped in the forefront to  lead 7 – 2 after back to back backdoor baskets and an “And One” three point play by #25 Jaleel Nelson. The Bears immediately responded as #21 Brandon Greene (Forward / 6 – 6 / Senior / Slidell, LA) was credited with his own “And One” play, converting a fast break bucket and making the free-throw after a foul was called during the play. Shaw took a step closer to retaking the lead when #20 Robert “Automatic” Espinosa (Forward / 6 – 7 / Senior / Plainfield, NJ) successfully stepped behind the arc to drain a three-pointer. Moments later following an offensive charge called on Chowan, Shaw snatched the lead back, 15 – 13, with a three-pointer and long range two-pointer by #11 John “Downtown” Douros (Guard / 6 – 2 / Junior / Raleigh, NC). Chowan underwent a trio of substitutions which proved to be quite timely as they motioned ahead to be credited with the third lead change of the game. Nevertheless, at the 9:27 mark, Shaw tied the game 24 – 24 when Greene successfully made his first three-pointer of the game. After Head Coach Robert Brickey called a timeout, the Bears forced a turnover and then attacked the Hawks with Greene’s second three-pointer and a tough two-pointer off the glass by Espinosa. Shaw led 29 – 24 with a little less than five minutes remaining before halftime. The Hawks squawked back to take the lead, but sure enough Shaw resurfaced at the 5:01 mark to tie the game 32 – 32 with a backcourt steal, lay-up, and made free throw by Kornegay. Unfortunately, Chowan charged back with a steady stream of offensive production, largely captained by Virginia State University transfer #24 Aaron Scott, to take a 44 – 36 lead with two minutes left in the half. The Chiefs possessed their largest lead of the game, 52 – 40, with a three-pointer by #30 Roderick Ramsay. Chowan held onto their double digit point margin advantage, 54 – 42, leading into halftime.

At the start of the second half, the Bears were somewhat satisfied with their fairly warm 59.3% (16 of 27) field goal percentage, but concentrated more to cool off Chowan’s  crock-pot hot 70% (21 of 30) first half field goal percentage. However, it seemed as though as Shaw turned up their temperature gauge on their offensive furnace, so did Chowan. The Bears clawed and gnawed to diminish the double digit deficit yet the Hawks continued to pilot an accelerating airliner that led to a first class flight lead by as many as 22 points. Shaw battled back to attacked Chowan with an 18 – 5 scoring run. It started with #1 Will “Takeover” Graham (Guard / 5 – 10 / Junior / Minneapolis, MN) pocketing back to back three-pointers just before Obadina released a bounce pass to Espinosa for two points in the paint. Then, Kornegay picked up an overthrown pass to nail a critical clutch three-pointer. Shaw trimmed the Hawks’ once obese point margin lead to just nine points (77 – 68 Chowan) with six minutes remaining. The arrow of momentum definitely changed directions as #00 Cori Gaither (Forward / 6 – 5 / Senior / Jacksonville, FL) caught a fast break bounce pass from Graham and placed two points off of the backboard. Chowan called a full timeout as Shaw trailed just four points, 78 – 74. The Bears requested a sixty second timeout of their own after Kornegay hailed in a huge three-pointer at the 2:38 mark to cut the lead to three, 82 – 79 Chowan. Kornegay would tickle the twine from behind the arc once again with 50 seconds left in regulation to bring the Bears within three, 85 – 82, of their opponents. Shaw stood within one point, 86 – 85 Chowan, with six seconds left after Obadina made a powerful move inside to collect two points. Chowan closed out of the game with four conversions at the charity stripe in closing seconds.

Leading in scoring for the Bears was #34 John Kornegay with a game high 18 points (one rebound / four assists / one steal). Providing additional scoring was #30 Damola Obadina with 16 points (three rebounds / four assists / one steal), #1 Will Graham with 15 points (a team high five rebounds / two assists), and #21 Brandon Greene with 11 points (two rebounds / one rebound / one steal).