JC Smith basketball hits the road with growing momentum

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith forward Avery Huggins dunks the ball for two of his team-high 16 points in the Golden Bulls' 86-76 win Saturday against Lees-McRae in a nonconference game at Brayboy Gym. JCSU is 5-2 as they embark on a three-game road swing against CIAA opponents Lincoln (Pa.), Virginia Union and Bowie State.

Steve Joyner is having a good December.

His Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls are off to their best start since 2019 at 5-2, which included an 86-76 win Saturday – on Joyner’s birthday – against Lees-McRae (7-2) to snap the Bobcats’ seven-game victory streak. After struggling for three seasons because of fallout from the covid pandemic and roster instability, Smith is in a good place.

“It’s certainly a good win for us,” Joyner said. “We knew this was a team that was gelling very well, working well together and we certainly want to look at this is a signature win. We want to beat somebody who’s beaten other people and have a good record. We know we beat a good team.”

One thing that separates the Golden Bulls from the last three seasons is the roster’s construction. Joyner’s team traditionally have been built on dynamic backcourts, but this year’s team is generating offense in the front court, too. Forward Avery Huggins, a junior college transfer, is Smith’s leading scorer at 19.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while guard Ezekiel Cannedy, an all-CIAA pick last year as a freshman, averages 15.7. Spreading the offensive load – five Golden Bulls average double-digit points per game – is working.

“We have enough scoring power,” Joyner said. “We have quite a few people who can score the basketball and whatnot. We’ve just got to gel together. We’ve got to keep our turnovers down, our assists up we’ve got to play better defense. I think we’re beginning to do that, especially on the defensive end. If we can do that, I think we’ll be all right because we’ve got some deep scoring. That’s not our problem.”

In addition to Huggins, freshman Asa White (10.0 points per game, team-best 5.1 rebounds an outing), along with juniors Jeremee Bryant (transfer from Fayetteville Tech) and Javian Cannedy (Mount Olive) have made contributions in their first season at Smith. Huggins said the transition to a new program and teammates is producing good results.

“I never had any problems getting to know them, playing together and working together as a team,” he said. “It was kind of difficult at first, but again, we’re getting it together.”

JCSU is also more willing to take advantage of transition opportunities. Against Lees-McRae, the Golden Bulls outscored the Bobcats 27-14 on fast-break points, fueled by a 24-17 disparity in defensive rebounds.
“We’re a little bit bigger than what we were (in past seasons), Joyner said. “But again, we’re still going through a youth movement and a growth movement. The more we grow and the more we understand what we’ve got to do to win.”

After six home dates among seven games played, the Golden Bulls will put their confidence to the test with three CIAA road dates in five days, starting Dec. 14 at Lincoln (Pa.) followed by Virginia Union (Dec. 16) and Bowie State (Dec. 18). Smith’s two losses were to Coker – one at home, the other on the road. By comparison, five of the Golden Bulls’ first seven games last year were on the road and they went 3-4 before finishing 9-14.

“Strategically, it’s helped a lot,” Joyner said. “Last year we took a crew out in the [Chris Paul HBCU Tipoff Classic in Uncasville, Conn.] and played an exhibition at North Carolina. This year, playing more games at home has helped us grow. We’ll see how much when we go on the road.”

Huggins is looking forward to his first CIAA road tour.

“Continue to play as a team and come back with three dubs,” he said. “Most of the guys in the CIAA I’ve already played against, so I’m already (prepared).”

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