| North Carolina A&T interim head men’s basketball coach Jay Joyner called his first collegiate victory bittersweet. Yes, he helped the Aggies end a nine-game losing streak and in the process earn the program’s first win in 2016 with a 63-62 win over Savannah State on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Corbett Sports Center, but at the same time his mentor and friend, former Aggies head coach Cy Alexander, wasn’t on the floor. He was looking down from the broadcaster’s box as the color analyst on the Aggies Radio Network broadcast following his resignation from his position on Friday. Alexander resigned and Joyner was named interim head coach.
The much-needed win came through some key plays by several players and solid teamwork. The deal was sealed when redshirt sophomore Sam Hunt hit two free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining to end the Aggies loosing streak.
“I’m just excited for the guys to be able to stick together and persevere,” said Joyner. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and toward the end they tried to rip my heart out of my chest. But I thought the guys really fought hard defensively for 40 minutes, finally. And that’s what I’m going to hang my hat on. Defense. It’s all about defense.”
And why shouldn’t he hang his hat there? After all, he has become the determiner of where the hat hangs.
Although, the Aggies fell short Wednesday, Feb 3 to the Charlotte 49ers, the team is regrouping and preparing for their next challenge against conference rival, North Carolina Central University at 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6 in Durham. |
