WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — William & Mary used a potent second-half surge to defeat North Carolina A&T 97-89 in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball game Thursday night at Kaplan Arena. The Tribe, improving to 12-6, pulled away after leading just 42-40 at halftime. A 55-point second-half performance secured the win before a crowd of 3,241. The Aggies, who fell to 7-9, kept pace behind 49 second-half points but could not close the gap. William & Mary outperformed its pregame projection as a heavy favorite in a game where the combined score far exceeded the over/under line. North Carolina A&T’s three-game losing streak continues.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — In a high-octane Colonial Athletic Association shootout where defensive stops were a rare commodity, William & Mary used a decisive second-half surge to outlast North Carolina A&T 97-89 on Thursday night at Kaplan Arena. The game, played before a crowd of 3,241, featured remarkable offensive efficiency. William & Mary (12-6, 2-3 CAA) scored 55 points after halftime, shooting 57.9% from the field for the game and posting an offensive rating of 129.8 points per 100 possessions. North Carolina A&T (7-9, 1-4) was nearly as potent, shooting 59.3% overall with a 117.2 offensive rating, but 17 turnovers proved costly against a Tribe squad that committed only nine. The contest was tight for the first 25 minutes, with 12 lead changes and neither team building more than a five-point advantage. The Aggies, led by a spectacular scoring performance from Lewis Walker, took a 58-57 lead on a Zamoku Weluche-Ume 3-pointer with 13:29 remaining. William & Mary’s response was immediate and overwhelming. Sparked by its defense, the Tribe unleashed a 15-2 run over the next three and a half minutes to seize control. The run featured a steal and assist from Chase Lowe, a driving layup from Reese Miller, and a critical 3-pointer from Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi. It was capped by a Jo’El Emanuel dunk off another Fasasi assist, pushing the lead to 72-60 with 8:13 to play. North Carolina A&T never got closer than six points the rest of the way. Walker, a 6-foot-6 junior from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was phenomenal in defeat, scoring 33 points on 12-of-18 shooting in 37 minutes. Trent Middleton added 20 points for the Aggies, while Weluche-Ume, from London, England, chipped in 15 points. William & Mary countered with a balanced and efficient attack. Fasasi, a 6-foot-7 guard from Stockholm, Sweden, orchestrated the win with 19 points and five assists. Miller, a sophomore from Round Rock, Texas, matched Fasasi’s 19 points, and Kilian Brockhoff, a 6-foot-8 forward from Cuxhaven, Germany, provided 15 points and two blocks off the bench. The first half set the stage for the offensive showcase, ending with William & Mary holding a narrow 42-40 edge. The Aggies kept pace largely through Walker’s 18 first-half points, but the Tribe’s depth and ability to force turnovers began to tilt the game after halftime. William & Mary’s backcourt pressure was pivotal, generating eight steals. Lowe, despite an off-shooting night, contributed seven points and a game-high six assists, while Kyle Pulliam had four assists and four steals. The Tribe also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 22 of 31 attempts compared to A&T’s 17 of 23. The Aggies, who have lost four of their last five, continue their road swing at Hampton on Monday. William & Mary, snapping a three-game losing streak, hosts UNC Wilmington next Thursday.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The William & Mary Tribe will look to halt a three-game skid when they host the North Carolina A&T Aggies in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball matchup on Thursday night at Kaplan Arena. The Tribe (11-6, 0-3 CAA) opened conference play with losses at College of Charleston, Monmouth and Drexel after a strong non-conference performance. William & Mary’s offense, which averages over 80 points per game, has cooled during the losing streak, failing to reach 71 points in the last two contests. A key to reigniting their attack will be guard Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi. He is averaging 13.8 points over his last four games, including a 22-point, 7-rebound effort in a win over Stony Brook on Dec. 31. The visiting Aggies (7-8, 0-2) are also seeking their first CAA victory after narrow losses to UNC Wilmington and Elon. North Carolina A&T fell 69-64 to Elon on Jan. 8 despite 19 points from guard Mujahiid Burton. Burton has been a bright spot, providing scoring punch off the bench. William & Mary holds a distinct advantage in record and home court, where they are 7-1 this season. The Aggies, however, have shown resilience on the road with wins at UNC Greensboro and North Carolina Central earlier this season. This game begins a critical homestand for the Tribe, who play four of their next five at Kaplan Arena. For the Aggies, it is the start of a stretch with five of seven games away from home. The matchup will feature a contrast in tempo. William & Mary prefers a fast pace and ranks among national leaders in scoring offense, while North Carolina A&T has struggled at times to keep up, allowing 80 or more points in four of their eight losses. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 15.