HATTIESBURG, Miss. - After two years of last-second game-winners, Stillman College at William Carey University proved to be yet another must-watch NAIA men's basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10. However, Stillman was unable to respond to a late lead change by William Carey, falling 80-78, for its first road Southern States Athletic Conference loss of the season.
The loss snapped a six-game win streak. It was the fourth time in five years the game in Hattiesburg was decided by three points or less.
Stillman (7-3, 3-2 SSAC) led WCU for 39:52 of the 40-minute game. The game saw 10 made free throws in the final 10 seconds of action.
With 2:42 to play,
Derrick Finklea hit a pair of free throws to make Stillman's lead eight points, 74-66. WCU took advantage of three Stillman turnovers to score seven-straight and make it a one-point game, 76-73, with 1:06 remaining. However, Finklea fouled Kolby Moore on a 3-point shot with 10 seconds left. Moore sank all three free throws to tie the game. A foul and technical foul sent both teams to the line with eight seconds left. Moore hit one shot, Brenden Lankford-Johnson hit two, to give Stillman a 78-77 lead.
WVU's Arturro Bigham appeared to have missed a potential game-winning 3 in the final second, but Finklea was whistled for a foul on the shot. Arturro Bingham hit all three shots to finish with 12 points and give WCU an 80-78 lead with 0.8 seconds on the clock. A full-court pass was knocked out of bounds, giving Stillman the ball in front of its bench with 0.5 left. However, the inbounds, alley-oop attempt hit the top of the backboard to turn the ball over to the Crusaders.
After shooting 52.9% in the first half, Stillman was held to 35.7% in the second half.
Jamar Jackson paced Stillman in the first half, scoring 14 points in the first half, including four 3-pointers. He finished the game with 19 points. Finklea scored 11 points in the first half and 17 total in the game. He also had seven assists and three steals.
Marcus Bates Jr also scored in double figures in the first half with 10 points. He finished the game with a double-double 18 points and 12 rebounds, as well as five steals.
Stillman used an 8-0 run to build a nine-point lead, 19-10, with 12:38 left in the first half. WCU cut the margin to a point midway in the half, but Finklea,
Bailey Talley, Jackson and
Tomias Brand combined for a 9-0 run to build its first 10-point lead, 31-21. Stillman led 44-36 at halftime.
Brand led the Tigers' offense in the second half, scoring 10 of his total 17 points. The Tigers' largest lead was 54-43 less than five minutes into the second half.
With eight free throws made, Moore led all players with 23 points and had five assists for WCU. Kazeneza had a double-double 15 points and 12 rebounds. Earl Smith was the fourth Crusaders in double figures with 11 points.
Stillman will travel to Blue Mountain College on Monday for a 7:30 p.m. SSAC game.
