Carolinian

Issue date: 2/7/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: JOHN READ/THE CAROLINIAN Ricky Hickman needs only 26 points to become just the 13th Spartan to record 1,000 career points.

With 52 seconds left and the game knotted at 56, Ricky Hickman's high-arching trey from the top of the key ripped nylon to propel UNCG to a crucial come-from-behind 65-59 win over conference foe Furman on Saturday night at Fleming Gym.

"I was looking at how the defender was playing me, and he took his chances and played under the screen," said Hickman with a sly grin. "I just let it go and knocked it down. They expect me to hit those shots, so I have to at least be brave enough to step up and take them."

The Spartans have every reason to expect him to make shots. Hickman extended his double-figure scoring streak to 21 straight games, a feat that hasn't been done since 1992. Hickman also only needs 26 points to become the 13th Spartan to reach the 1,00 point plateau.

UNCG (11-12, 4-5 SoCon) suffered a miserable first half, as Furman (12-9, 5-4 SoCon) shot the lights out of Fleming Gym. The Paladins hit 62.5 percent of their shots, including 6-of-11 from downtown. They led by as much as 16 after Gerad Punch hit a layup to make it 23-7 with 11:14 to go. Hickman, who finished with 14 points, finally got on the board when he scored the last points of the half on a baseline dunk with 1:15 to go. Hickman's basket cut the deficit to 38-25 going into the locker room.

The Spartans shot 41. 7 percent in the first half, but the big guns-Hickman and Hines-combined for only nine points in the first half. The major concern was on the defensive end however, as the Paladins scored at will.

According to Hickman, some motivational words by coach Mike Dement in the locker room got the team refocused "He had an inspirational speech about how he won a state championship in high school when they were down by 18 at the half. He basically told us it was gut-check time and that we could win this one on our home floor."

Dement claims that Hickman was actually the one who stepped up to motivate the team. "I thought Ricky did the best job at halftime. He made a great statement, and that's what you need. Ricky's an upperclassman and when those guys start making statements and demands than we can become a good team."

While only those in the locker room know exactly who said what, one thing was obvious - it worked.

Continued...

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