Winston-Salem State are the 2023 CIAA Men's Basketball Champion after a big second-half run helped No. 5 seed Rams reclaim control and defeat No. 6 seed Lincoln (Pa.) 62-57 in the title game at CFG Bank Arena on Saturday.
The championship is the 13th in the Rams' storied basketball history, including two under Head Coach Cleo Hill Jr. The win also earned the Rams (21-8 overall) an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs in the Atlantic Region.
"You cannot come [to Winston-State Salem] and not expect to win division championships and conference championships and advance to the NCAA Tournament," said Coach Cleo Hill Jr. "It's just part of the deal when you are a coach here or a player here."
Led by 14 points from Samage Teel and 11 each from Jaylon Gibson and Jon Hicklin, the Rams staved off a late comeback from a feisty Lincoln team that was making its first appearance in the CIAA Men's Basketball Championship game.
After falling behind by double digits at halftime, the Lions outscored the Rams 16-5 to knot the score at 34-34 midway in the second half. The Rams were not deterred by the rally as they put together a 17-8 run of their own for a 51-42 lead with 1:29 left.
That run ultimately was the difference, but not before the Lions put another scare in the Rams. Bakir Cleveland made one of two free throws as Lincoln climbed within 56-52 with 34 seconds left. Korey Williams later connected on a deep three-pointer to cut the deficit even further to 60-57 with one second left but Teel, the hero in the semifinal win over Virginia Union, made both free throws for the final margin.
Jaylen Alston, named Food Lion Tournament MVP, and Xavier Fennell both added eight points for the Rams, who outrebounded the Lions 47-26 including a 16-5 advantage on the offensive boards. Both teams shot 35 percent from the floor but the Rams made 26 of 43 free throws compared to 14 of 17 for the Lions.
Lincoln placed three scorers in double figures led by 14 points from Reggie Hudson. Williams added 12 points and Freddie Young, Jr. contributed 11 points off the bench for the Lions, who scored 15 points off 20 WSSU turnovers.
The Lions stayed close early, but the Rams scored 12 straight points late in the half to extend a 15-12 lead to 27-12. The Lions sliced the deficit to 11, trailing 29-18 at halftime. Lincoln (PA) continued its run to start the second half as the Lions went on a 16-4 run to pull even at 34-34. In that run, Reggie Hudson scored 12 straight points before Peter Sorber's layup tied the game. In the next possession, Jon Hicklin hit a three to regain the lead for Winston-Salem State.
Teel paced the Rams with eight first-half points. Alston and Hicklin each added five points in the period. Winston-Salem State outrebounded Lincoln (PA) 27-12 in the first half, finishing the game with a 47-26 advantage.

Courtesy of theciaa.com

All-Tournament MVP: Jaylen Alston (6'4''-G) of WSSU
Player of the Year: Robert Osborne (6'5''-F) of Virginia Union
Defensive Player of the Year: Amadou Faye (7'0''-C) of ECSU
Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Cannedy (6'2''-G) of JCSU
Coach of the Year: Jay Butler of Virginia Union

All-CIAA First Team 2023

Fitzgerald

Worthy

Williams

Cannedy

Drayton

Hunter-Whitfield

First Team
BJ Fitzgerald (6'6''-G-2000) of Virginia St.
Cress Worthy (6'2''-G) of Fayetteville St.
Korey Williams (6'0''-PG) of Lincoln, PA
Ezekiel Cannedy (6'2''-G) of JCSU
Quinton Drayton (6'5''-G-1998) of Bowie St.
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield (6'5''-F-1999) of Virginia St.
Raemaad Wright (6'7''-F) of Virginia Union
Amadou Faye (7'0''-C) of ECSU
Robert Osborne (6'5''-F) of Virginia Union
Tyler Foster (6'5''-G) of Fayetteville St.
Jaylon Gibson (6'10''-F/C) of WSSU
Kyrie Temple (6'6''-F) of Livingstone

CIAA All-Rookie Team 2023

Cannedy

Johnson

Lassiter

Harris

Young

All-Rookie Team
Ezekiel Cannedy (6'2''-G) of JCSU
Nemo Johnson (6'6''-F) of St.Augustine
Pharoah Lassiter (6'2''-G) of Livingstone
Jaquantae Harris (6'2''-PG) of ECSU
Freddie Young (6'3''-G) of Lincoln, PA

CIAA All-Tournament Team 2023

Richardson

Coleman

Cleveland

Hudson

Roberts

Osborne

All-Tournament Team
Tre Richardson (6'4''-G) of ECSU
Kaleb Coleman (6'6''-F) of Fayetteville St.
Bakir Cleveland (6'5''-G) of Lincoln, PA
Reggie Hudson (6'1''-PG) of Lincoln, PA
Jamari Roberts (6'10''-C) of Shaw
Robert Osborne (6'5''-F) of Virginia Union
Keleaf Tate (6'3''-G) of Virginia Union
Jaylen Alston (6'4''-G) of WSSU
Jaylon Gibson (6'10''-F/C) of WSSU
Samage Teel (6'2''-G) of WSSU