Men's Basketball
Strickland-led Eagles Win Their Opener
March 1, 2006
By Andrew J. Beckner
Sportswriter, Charleston Daily Mail
University of Charleston sophomore Robert Strickland was worried that the Shepherd University player he was trailing might pass.
But, hey, what the heck, right? It was only the Golden Eagles' season on the line.
"I saw it coming," Strickland said. "I just went for it."
He got it. Strickland blocking Rams guard Yves Moliva's shot was a fitting ending.
Moliva was driving to the lane for a bucket in the waning moments of UC's 74-66 win in its opening round West Virginia Conference Tournament game at Eddie King Gym Tuesday.
Strickland saw it coming and Moliva's shot never got there.
UC held Shepherd, the No. 9 seed, eight points below its season average, forced 19 Ram turnovers and recorded eight blocked shots none more important that the last of Strickland's five swats.
"I think we played great defense all night," said UC Coach Greg White.
Well, that figures. It has been the Golden Eagles' M.O. this season. They finished fourth in the WVC in both field goal percentage defense and scoring defense and it was their tenacity in getting after the ball that led to an early 15-point advantage over the Rams (13-15, 7-11 WVC).
But wouldn't you know it? Charleston (18-10, 11-7) struggled because of it, too.
UC's aggressiveness on defense led to foul trouble and that foul trouble gave Shepherd the opportunity to get back into the game.
So, despite nearly getting blown out early, the Rams actually led by one point as late as three minutes to play.
It started with Strickland, who picked up a third foul on a technical in the first half.
"We were in foul trouble because of that technical," White said. "When he's not on the floor, we're not as good."
Strickland admits that by nature he's an aggressive player. And as positive as that attribute can be maybe eighth-seeded Charleston wouldn't have advanced to the WVC quarterfinals against top-seeded Alderson-Broaddus at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Charleston Civic Center without it his aggressiveness can lead to problems.
"I'm as aggressive as the refs let me play," he said. "I try not to worry (about foul trouble), but it's in the back of your mind."
Instead, it was White's worry. He went to a zone defense early in the second half to protect Strickland, who finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, five blocked shots and a pair of steals.
It worked. Strickland was on the floor when it mattered most and didn't foul out.
But that's what this team does, according to White.
"Our will to win was there," he said. "When we needed big stops, we got them."
Now, White hopes that carries over to Thursday. A-B, like Charleston, is one of the best defensive teams in the conference and can shoot the lights out from the 3-point line.
Sophomore Samario Clancy is the league's best rebounder, and senior Derrick Bell is one of its best shooters.
UC will counter with seniors Robert Siwo, who had a team-high 16 points against Shepherd, and Eric Smith, whose 10-point effort Tuesday was one of five double-figure scoring performances for the Golden Eagles.
They are among the reasons White isn't ready to concede anything to Alderson-Broaddus, who comes into the WVC tourney after a first-round bye.
"There will be no gimmes Thursday," White said.
Especially if Strickland sees A-B coming.