Eastern Wayne Storms Back Late to Knock Off Goldsboro

Eastern Wayne Storms Back Late to Knock Off Goldsboro in Electric Rivalry Showdown

Eastern Wayne and Goldsboro gave a packed house everything it came for Friday night.

Behind a furious late-game rally, the Warriors erased a seven-point deficit in the final minutes to defeat Goldsboro 57–54, earning their third straight win and improving to 12–7 on the season. Eastern Wayne moved to 6–2 in conference play, tightening an already crowded race behind Washington and Southwest Edgecombe.

“It definitely was a big game and a big win for us,” Eastern Wayne head coach Cleveland Williams said. “We definitely needed it going forward.”

Goldsboro dropped to 15–4, snapping a four-game win streak, though the Cougars remain unbeaten in conference play at 8–0. The loss primarily impacts Goldsboro’s RPI and does little to change its position atop the standings.

The victory continued a recent shift in a rivalry long dominated by Goldsboro. While the Cougars have won 34 of the last 40 meetings, Eastern Wayne has now taken three straight — a point not lost on the Warriors.

“Since I was a freshman, Goldsboro versus Eastern Wayne has been going on for a long time,” Eastern Wayne guard Izeiah Oates said. “Last year we got our first win in like 15 years, so I knew they were going to have a chip on their shoulder. I knew we had to protect the house.”

A Crowd That Matched the Moment

That edge was felt long before tipoff. From the end of the JV game until the opening whistle of the boys contest, fans poured into the gym, creating a line that stretched from the parking lot to the door. Both sides were packed with Cougars and Warriors, while Eastern Wayne’s “ESPN Fan Section” brought signs, an ESPN-style table, and student-led analysis that amplified the rivalry atmosphere.

The intensity carried onto the court immediately.

The opening quarter ended tied at 13–13. Goldsboro’s Jabrion Armstrong set the tone early, scoring six first-quarter points. Eastern Wayne responded with balance, as Josiah Banks and Oates combined for 10 points in the opening frame.

Goldsboro Takes Control Early

Armstrong remained hot in the second quarter, adding eight more points to finish with 14 in the first half. Seven Pounds also found a rhythm, scoring seven points in the quarter and 10 before halftime.

Eastern Wayne leaned on Kairell Evans to stay close, as he scored seven second-quarter points, but Goldsboro carried a 35–27 lead into the break.

Defense Changes the Game

Eastern Wayne emerged from halftime with renewed focus. Evans continued his strong play, scoring six points in the third quarter, while the Warriors turned up the defensive pressure, holding Goldsboro to just nine points in the period.

“We just had to weather the storm,” Williams said. “We couldn’t get all the points back in one bucket. We just had to chip away and play good defense, and that’s what we did.”

That approach paid off in the fourth quarter.

Eastern Wayne briefly grabbed a 46–44 lead following a fast-break dunk by Charlie Thomas. The moment swung again when Thomas was assessed a technical foul for hanging on the rim, sparking a 9–0 Goldsboro run that pushed the Cougars ahead 53–46 with three minutes remaining.

Execution Under Pressure

Eastern Wayne didn’t panic.

Thomas took control late, scoring eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. Shayon Faircloth buried a crucial three-pointer as the Warriors closed the game on an 11–1 run.

“It was in the moment,” Thomas said. “We practice these situations and plays in these moments. It really just came natural.”

As Eastern Wayne chipped away, Evans continued to feed off the energy around him.

“It comes from all my teammates’ intensity,” Evans said. “Once they hype me up, everything gets rolling and everyone gets rolling.”

Goldsboro had one last chance, trailing by one with nine seconds remaining, but Oates jumped a passing lane for a steal and calmly knocked down two free throws to seal the win.

By the Numbers

Eastern Wayne was led by Evans with 14 points, followed by Thomas with 13, Banks with 11, Oates with nine, and Levi Evans with five.

Goldsboro was paced by Armstrong’s 18 points, while Pounds added 12 and Nehemiah McNair chipped in eight.

The teams will meet again on February 11, with Eastern Wayne now squarely in the conference hunt and Goldsboro still holding first place — but no longer unquestioned control of a rivalry that’s clearly shifting.

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