January 18, 2003
Rams Drop Third Straight And First Conference Loss At Home

MOBILE, Ala. – Holding a 7-point lead with 1:20 to go in regulation, the Rams were unable to hold on for the win, losing 62-57 to conference leader Tougaloo College in overtime. Still looking for their first conference win, the men's basketball team now falls to 11-7 and 0-3 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

While the Rams went a respectable 4-of-6 from the charity stripe in the first half, they struggled in the second half as they were 56% on 18-of-32 shooting. That compared to the Bulldogs 75% on 15-of-20 shooting was one of the major differences in the game. The other was turnovers. While the Bulldogs protected the ball well, only committing 15, the Rams coughed up a woeful  30 in their third straight loss.

Tougaloo took as much as a 7-point lead in the first half. While Jamal Bouldin was kept in the check by the Rams who held the All-Conference player to 3 points on 1-of-8 shooting from the floor, William Dukes carried the load in the first half. Dukes made his presence felt with a dunk that gave the Bulldogs a 9-3 lead with 15:14 to go. With 7:42 Dukes got a put back to give the 'dogs their biggest lead of the night, 18-11. The Rams however fought back and closed the half down only one, 21-20.

The lead exchanged hands four times in the second half before the Rams seemingly gained control with 7:04 remaining, as they opened up a 47-39 lead; their biggest of the night. However the Rams slowly watched their lead slip away before Tougaloo's  Michael Levy hit the game-tying shot to send the game into overtime with the score 52-52.

Although the Rams struck first in the overtime, with a Gimel Lewis lay-up, the 'dogs had the final answer as they went on a 6-0 run with 1:42 to go in overtime. Started with a Jamal Bouldin 3-pointer, Tougaloo drained free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Tougaloo was led by Joseph Curtis' 15 points, with Jamal Bouldin and Michael Levy each getting 10.

The Rams, who will look to end their drought in New Orleans next week against a tough Xavier University team, were led by Gimel Lewis' 12 points and 9 rebounds. Gabriel Feagin, Albert Sullivan, and Kirby Oliver each had 10 points for the Rams.

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