Rams Run Past Cavs in Final Two Minutes

February 10, 2007
Game Stats

Bluefield, VA – In a close battle the entire contest, the Bluefield College Rams ran past the UVA-Wise Highland Cavaliers in the final two minutes, 11-2, to take a 74-68 Appalachian Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory.

Sophomore forward Zydrunas Rackauskas continued his outstanding all-around week. Rackauskas made 10 of 16 attempts for a game-best 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for his third double-double of the week. Jarred Soles was the lone other double digit scorer with 10 tallies. Seth Gibson handed out fie assists to go with seven points. The Cavs (7-21/4-12 AAC) committed twice as many turnovers as their hosts, 23-12, but won the board battle, 38-26.

Off the bench, James Chapman and J.R. Montgomery paced Bluefield (19-9/13-3 AAC). Chapman hit for 22 points while Montgomery had 16, the duo combined to make 18 of 21 free throws. Dontae Gholson and Omar Reed added nine points apiece.

Rackauskas made a basket with 2:15 left in the game to give UVA-Wise a 66-63 lead. The basket would be the team’s last for the next 2:08.

Bluefield scored the contest’s next 11 points to make it 74-66 as UVA-Wise committed three turnovers and missed three-straight shots in its next six possessions. Rackauskas made the last visitor bucket with seven seconds to make the final 74-68.

The Cavs lead for the first 19:17 of the opening half including starting the first nine minutes ahead 16-7. Montgomery broke a tie with 43 seconds to give Bluefield a 31-30 halftime score.

Gibson downed the Cavs’ lone triple of the day as the first basket of the second half, 33-31. The contest had 10 lead changes and seven ties the rest of the half before the deciding run in the last two minutes for the Rams.

UVA-Wise will complete its home schedule in a 7:30 p.m. match vs. Milligan Tuesday evening.