Mike Daniels, coach of the No. 9-ranked City College Black Knights boys’ basketball team, wondered how his players would respond after a fight broke out between players and students in the stands during their game against the defending Baltimore City champs, Edmondson Westside on Feb. 4.
But even a shorthanded roster couldn’t stop the City College (11-7 overall, 4-2 division) from edging the No. 5-ranked Dunbar Poets, 54-50, in overtime at the Coppin State University Physical Education Complex on Feb. 11.
According to school officials, seven students were disciplined for their involvement in the Feb. 4 alteration, including a few City College players.
Against Dunbar, City College relied on senior veterans such as Nick Faust and Mike Cheatham, who both scored a game-high 16 points each. Faust played a critical role in the win, grabbing a few crucial rebounds in overtime and throwing down a powerful dunk that sealed the win the closing seconds of the game.
Senior guard Lakeem Alston led Dunbar (15-3 overall, 5-3 division) with 13 points in the loss.
“I think we did a good job scrapping it out with a very tough opponent in Dunbar,” Daniels told the AFRO. “We knew it was going to be a dogfight with them, especially without our full team available, but we kept our focus and will and got it done.”
City College officials did not specify how long the players involved in the Edmondson Westside fight would be suspended from participation. The game was stopped with six minutes left with City leading, 48-34. According to The Baltimore Sun, the remainder of the City-Edmondson game will be finished sometime next week at an undisclosed location.
