Vol. 60, No./'^
Circulation 2,200
The Compass
The Student Newspaper of Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC
March 18,1999
Rams Defeat Vikings,
Win CIAA Crown
By Artelia Covington
Editor
Winston-Salem— In the last Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association
game played in the Lawrence Joel CoH-
seum in Winston-Salem before the tour
nament moves to its new venue in Ra
leigh next year, the Rams of
Winston-Salem State University de
feated Elizabeth City State University
89-71.
The Vikings, who brought a record
of 35 wins and five losses into the game,
jumped out to an early 14-7 lead with
13 minutes left in the opening half
when guard Bunmdi Bembury picked
up his second foul and was forced to
the bench. The undersized Rams then
took advantage of his absence and
scored 17 points during the half, 14 off
Viking turnovers.
"I think we turned it (the ball) over
tonight more than we have all season,"
said ECSU coach Barry Hamler, the
CIAA's Coach of the Year, during a
post game interview.
"Winston-Salem was just the best
team tonight. They've been the best
team aU tournament."
The Rams advanced to play the Vi
kings following a shocking semifinal
victory over top seeded Virginia Union
University. The victory was the Rams'
first since 1977.
The Rams took a 38-31 lead into the
locker room at halftime largely due to
Torrian Wyn's 11 first half points.
The Rams scored the first three points
of the second half when the Viking
bench was charged with a technic^
foul.
Throughout the half the Rams con
tinued to extend their rvm and took a
commanding 50-31 lead with 16 min
utes remaining in the game.
Behind the scoring of Che' Lugo,
Marcus Riddick and Anwar Atkinson,
all of whom scored 10 points, ECSU
stormed back to cut the Ram lead to
68-61 with 2:45 left in the game.
But the Rams closed the door for
good behind clutch free-throw shoot
ing to seal the win and the champion
ship.
The Rams' Larry Patterson scored a
game-high 23 points to lead Winston's
scorers. Marcus Riddick lead ECSU
scorers with 16 points. He also had
seven rebovmds.
Despite the CIAA title game loss,
ECSU recieved an at-large bid to the
NCAA tournament.
It was ECSU’s second at-large bid
mm
'A'
Photo by Sam Wolfe - The Daily Advance
ECSU guard Burudi Bemburi scrambles for loose ball during the
championship game Feb. 27 at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Coliseum in
Winston-Salem. The Vikings suffered a disappointing 89-71 loss to the
Rams.
in the last three years.
Raquita Washington of the Lady Vi
kings was named to the All - CIAA
Women's Team, while returning starter
Marcus Riddick and CIAA Rookie of
the Year William Fitzgerald were
named to the All- CIAA's Men's Team.
Fitzgerald, a transfer from Fairmont
State, led the CIAA in scoring with a
23.6 point per game average.
Campus Renovations Underway
Photo by J’aime Powell
Construction is expected to be completed by mid-summer on the new Fine
Arts Center.
By Xavier Wise
Staff Writer
With the year 2000 just arovmd the
comer, so too are renovations to the
Elizabeth City State University cam
pus. Several months ago the R.L
Vaughn Center was repainted, its floors
were stripped and new lights were in
stalled throughout.
Over at the Bedell Hall Cafeteria new
windows were installed and, accord
ing to Mr. John Smith, special assistant
to the Chancellor, more serving lines
will soon be added.
Before the start of the new millen-
iuim\, and after I have graduated, Eliza
beth City State University will have
almost a totally new look.
But will the entire ECSU campus be
"ready" when the next millermium
dawns? Mr. Smith says we will be. Al
though not all campus improvements
will be as noticeable as the opening of
the new Performing Arts Center, they
are all expected to enhance the cam
pus.
Aniraiber of other buildings are also
slated for renovation, with the dormi
tories needing special attention accord
ing to Mr. Smith. Whether structural,
carpet replacements or plumbing, no
dorm will go untouched once the
project gets imderway. Mr. Smith said
that the plans for dormitory renova
tions include providing Internet access.
Like students in other area universi
ties, ECSU students wiU be closer to
the information superhighway.
"What we'd like to do is provide
Internet access in the dormitories," said
Mr. Smith. He adds that while the
rooms will be wired, students will be
required to bring their own comput
ers.
For Tinika Bimch, a junior sociology/
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