2008 Woodie Awards
Closing shop: Seniors Dickerson and Billingslea leaving on a high note
By: Mzola Ahuama Jonas III
Issue date: 3/18/08 Section: Sports
There wasn't a finer way for Seniors Justin Billingslea and Devin Dickerson to finish the last home game at the Sports Arena. Last Wednesday was Senior night and both big men were given standing ovations filled with great appreciation.
Both Seniors stood with their families as their accomplishments played on the big screen. They were also presented with their respective jerseys framed.
Billingslea and Dickerson are the last of the "Michael Perry" era and have shown great leadership to a team and program that had made the transition from the Atlantic-Sun Conference to the tougher-than-expected Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).
On this Senior night, the crowd as well as the team was infused in the game. These Panther men, this team with an unfitting record of 9-19 never trailed once. Billingslea scored his first points of the night with an explosive dunk that set the tone for the Panthers.
State opened with a 12-2 run in the first half. They would lead 23-10 lead midway through the first half but Towson stormed back into the game as the Tigers scored 11 straight points making the score 23-21 with five minutes to go.
With momentum on their side, State answered with its run, knocking down treys by team scoring leader Leonard Mendez and Jihad Ali, and entered halftime leading Towson by 21 points.
Towson scored five of their 36 second-half points in the first minutes to come within seven points at 38-31, but the Panthers hit four straight three-pointers, one by Mendez and three by Goldston, extending their commanding lead to 50-34. The Panthers controlled the second half and led by as many as 25 points in.
The Panthers delivered on senior night, shooting a season-best 59.6 percent from the field, and shot 11-for-19 from three-point range. The Panthers dished out another season high of 23 assists, on 31 baskets.
Our Senior big men are passionate about winning have done all they could and more in instilling focus in a young team. Justin Billingslea made it clear to the team about what they needed to pay attention to.
Both Seniors stood with their families as their accomplishments played on the big screen. They were also presented with their respective jerseys framed.
Billingslea and Dickerson are the last of the "Michael Perry" era and have shown great leadership to a team and program that had made the transition from the Atlantic-Sun Conference to the tougher-than-expected Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).
On this Senior night, the crowd as well as the team was infused in the game. These Panther men, this team with an unfitting record of 9-19 never trailed once. Billingslea scored his first points of the night with an explosive dunk that set the tone for the Panthers.
State opened with a 12-2 run in the first half. They would lead 23-10 lead midway through the first half but Towson stormed back into the game as the Tigers scored 11 straight points making the score 23-21 with five minutes to go.
With momentum on their side, State answered with its run, knocking down treys by team scoring leader Leonard Mendez and Jihad Ali, and entered halftime leading Towson by 21 points.
Towson scored five of their 36 second-half points in the first minutes to come within seven points at 38-31, but the Panthers hit four straight three-pointers, one by Mendez and three by Goldston, extending their commanding lead to 50-34. The Panthers controlled the second half and led by as many as 25 points in.
The Panthers delivered on senior night, shooting a season-best 59.6 percent from the field, and shot 11-for-19 from three-point range. The Panthers dished out another season high of 23 assists, on 31 baskets.
Our Senior big men are passionate about winning have done all they could and more in instilling focus in a young team. Justin Billingslea made it clear to the team about what they needed to pay attention to.
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