The Times

Issue date: 2/9/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Louis Casiano Ravens Maurice McNeil rises to contest Harper's FG attempt

The Ravens two-game win streak came to an end Saturday with a heartbreaking 92-93 loss to the Navarro College Bulldawgs at the Anders Gym on Central campus.

Coming off back-to-back wins against Panola and Paris, the Ravens seemed confident they would win their third in a row, and after the first half, victory seemed well within reach.

The first half began with the Ravens running an up-tempo style, scoring baskets and playing pressure defense. Running the offense and scoring with ease, guard Dion Prewster led Raven scorers with 10 points at the half along with Maurice McNeil who chimed in with eight points and three rebounds.

The Ravens built a 10-point lead by the end of the first half, only to let it slip away during the second, as Navarro chipped away and eventually established a five-point lead of their own. Head coach Scott Gernander called a timeout and gave a stern speech to his players. After the timeout, the Ravens started to play a full-court press, hoping to cause a turnover.

Both the Ravens and the Dawgs played a physical, intense second half, scrambling for loose balls and taking multiple trips to the free throw line. Navarro started the second half re-energized and cut the Ravens lead in half with Paul Crosby dominating inside the paint.

"What can I say, he's a beast," McNeil said of the 6-foot-8 inch forward.

With Navarro holding on to a one-point lead with less than a minute, Navarro's Keithtrick Denson missed two critical free throws with less than a minute left. Calling a timeout, Gernander gathered his team and tried to run one last play.

As McNeil tried to make the final play, he was stripped of the ball before he could get a shot off.

With no call on the last play, the fans and players voiced disbelief at the officials. Coaches on both teams showed their frustration with officials throughout the game.

Gernander said of the officiating, "It was terrible both ways."

Forward Fernando Holden voiced his frustration after the game saying, "We got cheated."

In the end, the Ravens were lead by forward McNeil who dropped 16 points, followed by guard Jerrod Tillmon who scored another 14. Crosby, the "Runnin Dawgs" forward, led Navarro with 35 points, and dominated throughout the game.

Rebounds played a deciding factor with Navarro having grabbed 45 compared to 29 for the Ravens.

When discussing adjustments for the Ravens' next game, Gernander said, "Nothing, we just have to get better at rebounding."

After the game, McNeil said, "We just have to play harder, that's it."

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