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Ramblers Fall at Charlotte

12/27/02
by John C. Thomas
The Ramblers embarrassed themselves in their first nationally televised regular season game since 1985, losing to UNC-Charlotte 82-69 in their first game of the Pepsi tournament. The final score didn't reflect the lopsidedness of the game, in which the Ramblers trailed by 20 points or more for much of the second half.

Coach Farmer shook up his lineup, starting Corey Minnifield and Terrance Whiters (in his return to North Carolina) in place of Demetrius Williams and Louis Smith. Williams was battling strep throat, and went scoreless in 14 minutes off the bench.

The Rambler defense, hammered for 75, 80, and 100 points in the first three games of the Road Trip from Hell, looked primed to give up even more as the 49ers shot the lights out from behind the arc in the first half, hitting six of their first 10 three-point shots. Charlotte led 50-35 at halftime.

Loyola looked to make a run early in the second half, and closed to within eight points. But he 49ers stretched their lead to as many as 24 points as the Ramblers went on a six minute scoring drought. The Ramblers made the score respectable in scrub time as DaJuan Gouard hit a pair of late threes.

David Bailey, touted by the ESPN2 commentators, had one of the worst full games of his career, scoring only 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting and coming up with a goose egg on seven attempts from behind the arc. Kevin Clancy also missed all five of his shots from three land. Meanwhile, the 49ers hit 10 of their 24 three point attempts.

Paul McMillan led Loyola with 16 points and six boards. Minnifield and Whiters each added 12. The 49ers' Demon Brown led all scorers with 20 points, including six threes on 12 attempts.

Again, the Rambler defense was slow to get back after a shot, and even got burned at the other end off a made basket. How does this continue to happen? Wasn't it obvious in the Milwaukee game? It's been going on for at least three straight games!

In the first game of the tournament, Colorado thoroughly beat Louisiana-Lafayette 75-56. Loyola will face the Ragin' Cajuns tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.