Two Hornet Games ended with Thilling Finishes on Presidents Day

Can you believe it two hornets games that end with thrilling finishes on the same night in the same gym? For hornets fans that went to the game you saw 85 minutes of fun and excitement. For hornet fans that were at work or taking late class mid-terms you probably miss the most fun home game of the season.

If President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were Hornet fans they will be in for a real treat on the greatest day in sports: Presidents Day.

We begin with ladies first as the lady hornets (looking good in their pink uniforms to promote breast cancer) were taking on North Carolina A&T, who entered the game undefeated in the MEAC at 11-0. It was a great battle as the top two teams of the conference meet in round two at the final home game of the season Memorial Hall.

During the first half the lady hornets were ready to meet the challenge even though A&T took control at halftime by rebound the ball and taking great shots thanks good ball movement. The lady hornets were hanging tough even though they miss some easy shots and turned the ball over seven times.

Early in the second half the lady dug themselves in a hole trailing 45-29 with under 15 minutes left to play. After the time out, the lady hornets didn't panic as they slowly evaporate the lady aggie lead from double digits to single digits with two great runs of 12-3 and 9-1. The crowd was loud and crazy like I was as the lady hornets made big shots, key defensive stops, and making free throws count as they took their first lead since the opening minutes of the first half.

Both teams traded baskets for until final two minutes decide the ball game:

• Amber Bland of North Carolina A&T scored a three point shot to regain the lead.
• Selena Galloway and Jameka Smith helped give the lady hornets the lead by scoring a combine four points (Galloway's lay-up and Smith's two free-throws).
• With the crowd rocking even louder Amber Bland quiet the crowd a little with a three point to make it a one-possession with eight seconds remaining.
• After Galloway's free throw, the lady hornets made a defensive stop by preventing Bland to make a game winning shot.

The crowd erupted when the buzzer sound as the lady hornets made a statement to North Carolina A&T and the rest of the MEAC Conference that the DSU should be the number one seed in the MEAC Tournament coming up in March handing the lady aggies their first lost of the conference season by winning 68-66. Currently they are the most underrated team in the conference.
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On the men's side, the hornets were in a packed bottom as they tried to moved up in the conference standings against A&T. In the first half, the Hornets defense were not ready for Aggies three point shooting as they were playing catchup most of the first while trailing by seven points at halftime. The only highlight for the Hornets when Fred Bouie jump high in the air and block Marc Hill's layup into the seats. That got Memorial Hall hyped up.

In the second half, both teams put on a shooting clinic for the Hornet faithful as DSU shot 63% while A&T shot 58%. Both teams were trading basket after basket until Arturo DuBois (22 points, 10 rebounds) forced the Aggies to turned the ball over with 47 seconds left. This play sets up a hornet possession for Marcus Neal (11 points, four assists) with a left handed running hook shot that tied the game at 64. With 25 seconds left the hornets made a very nice defensive stand by not allowing A&T to make the buzzer beater shot.

During overtime both teams continued their shooting clinic until the hornets final possesion where options could have been made:

1. Give the ball to Trevor Whelchor and drive the basket forced A&T to foul and shoot game winning free throws.
2. Put Fred Bouie back in the ball game and hit the game winning shot.
3. Give the ball to Donald Johnson and shot a three pointer to win the game.
4. Give the ball to Dubois or Frisco Sandige who dominated the paint all night.

Instead they give the ball to Marcus Neal to hit the same shot again but this time the ball didn't work together with Neal as the ball went begging off the rim and the Aggies went to avenge the lost from Martin Luther King Day 74-73.

The Hornets have their offensive swagger back but the defense need to step a little bit more as they need build momentum for the MEAC tournament starting February 21 in the first of the final four road games against the same team that rallied and beat DSU, Bethune-Cookman. The reason is simple: clearly the Hornets will be playing in the first round conference tournament in March.