Winston-Salem State, with an all-time winning percentage of .730 at the Gaines Center, looked very comfortable at home last night against Atlanta Christian.
The Rams took care of business early against the undersized Chargers to cruise to a 94-57 victory.
"I wanted them to keep the intensity up the whole way," said Coach Bobby Collins of the Rams, whose team improved to 1-3.
"When we went out to Oregon and played those three teams they never let up on us.
"I wanted to be on the other side tonight."
Atlanta Christian, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association at the Division II level, has 423 students and is in East Point, Ga. The Chargers, whose tallest starter was 6-4, could not keep up with the taller and quicker Rams.
Five Rams scored in double figures, led by Shelton Carter with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Senior Brian Fisher, who went over 1,000 points in his career, added 14 points and four assists.
Center Paul Davis scored 13 points, had 11 rebounds and three blocks in 20 minutes off the bench.
Point guard Andrew Jackson, who along with Carter were making their Gaines Center debuts, had 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.
Forward McIntoche Alcius scored 10 points and had a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Chargers missed their first nine shots and fell behind 14-1.
They were hammered on the boards by the Rams to the tune of a 68-32 margin.
"Our rebounding was good, but we still have to get Corey (Morris) off to a better start because he needs to be able to throw his body around a little more," Collins said.
"But for the most part I was pleased and proud of the effort we gave.
"We weren't always in the right places but I wanted them to play with effort and I'll accept the rest."
The Rams enjoyed their biggest lead at 39 with eight minutes left.
"When we played the bigger teams they don't show any mercy on us so we tried to dish out the same punishment," Fisher said.
After playing nearly all of their home games at the Joel Coliseum or the Annex the last three seasons, the Rams will be back in the friendly confines of the Gaines Center this season.
Jackson, a junior-college transfer, loved the atmosphere.
"It was crazy," he said about the near-capacity crowd of around 3,000. "I loved it."
The Rams will face a much different challenge on Tuesday night, going across town to face Wake Forest.
Collins said he wanted his team to keep the intensity up in this game because it will have to do that and then some against the Deacons.
"I told them ‘Let's be fundamentally sound against this team because on Tuesday it's Wake Forest,' " Collins said.
"They will expose you if we play in spurts like we did tonight.
"There'll be no shortcuts against Wake Forest."
jdell@wsjournal.com.
727-4081
ATLANTA CHRISTIAN -- Wooley 3-7 4-6 10, Brunson 3-10 2-2 8, Appling 5-11 3-4 14, Hardnett 1-4 0-0 2, Crabtree 1-8 3-4 6, Perry 0-5 0-0 0, Bickerstaff 1-4 0-0 3, Johnson 1-4 2-2 5, Lawson 2-9 1-2 6, Jones 1-4 1-2 3. Totals 18-66 16-22 57.
WINSTON-SALEM -- Wells 0-4 1-2 1, Fisher 5-14 3-6 14, Carter 6-13 3-5 17, Alcius 4-10 2-3 10, Morris 1-4 2-4 4, Monger 2-3 4-4 8, Jackson 4-7 1-1 12, Kennings 1-3 0-0 2, Platt 3-8 1-1 7, Davis 6-10 1-3 13, Hobbs 0-3 0-0 0, Green 1-1 0-0 2, Johnson 0-0 4-6 4. Totals 33-80 22-35 94.
Halftime--Winston-Salem 49-23. 3-Point Goals--Atlanta Christian 5-25 (Johnson 1-2, Lawson 1-2, Bickerstaff 1-2, Appling 1-4, Crabtree 1-5, Wooley 0-2, Brunson 0-2, Jones 0-2, Perry 0-2, Hardnett 0-2), Winston-Salem 6-25 (Jackson 3-6, Carter 2-5, Fisher 1-6, Platt 0-1, Monger 0-1, Alcius 0-2, Kennings 0-2, Hobbs 0-2). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds--Atlanta Christian 32 (Bickerstaff 5), Winston-Salem 68 (Alcius 12). Assists--Atlanta Christian 11 (Crabtree, Lawson 3), Winston-Salem 17 (Fisher, Jackson, Wells 4). Total Fouls--Atlanta Christian 26, Winston-Salem 17. A--2,998.
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