FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-13-04

Men’s NCAA DII College Basketball: No. 5 Francis Marion 86, AASU 84

Courtesy of Chris Lancia, Inkwell Editor

KENNESAW, Ga. – For the second time in eight days, the Armstrong Atlantic State University Pirates and the Francis Marion University Patriots met with their seasons on the line.

This time, the Patriots relied on a 3-pointer by F George Walker with 1:30 left in the game to pull out an 86-84 victory.

"It was another classic game between these two teams," said Pirates Head Coach Jeff Burkhamer. "Guys on both sides just kept making plays. I’m not sure if we lost so much as we just ran out of time at the end."

On Friday, March 5, the Pirates came out on top of the Patriots in a quarterfinal match up in the Peach Belt Conference tournament. In that game, it was a 3-pointer by Pirate’s PG Jason Sanders at the buzzer that provided the difference in the game.

"This was just another incredible game between these two teams," stated Patriots Head Coach John Schweitz. "Last week I didn’t think it was so incredible, but the view from the other side is pretty nice. My dinner will taste a lot better tonight."

The Pirates jumped out to an early lead, with C Tim Black scoring the first points on a turnaround jumper in the lane less than a minute into the game. From there, the Pirates played an inspired first half, leading by as many as 16 points with 12:00 minutes left in the first half.

"I was hoping we’d keep shooting as well as we were," commented Burkhamer, whose team shot an impressive 59% from the field in the first half. "But I told the guys to be ready, because we knew Francis Marion was too good to not make a run."

The Patriots refused to go out quietly, fighting back to take the lead, 40-39, on a three-pointer by G Mike Buglione with 1:40 left in the half.

F Brian Bain led the Pirates in the first half with 9 points, 3 assists, and a steal while playing all but one minute of the half.

The teams went into the half with the score knotted at 45-all.

The battle continued in the second half as both teams continued to shoot at a blistering pace. In second half, the Pirates shot 42% and the Patriots shot 48% from the field.

The teams traded scores for the first four minutes of the half, at which point the Pirates went on a 5-0 run to take a 56-51 lead on a free throw by F Brian Bain with 15:01 left in the game.

Less than three minutes later, Patriots C Jaquan Bracey tied the score at 56 with two free throws with 12:42 left in the game.

Sanders drained a 3-pointer for the Pirates, but Walker followed up with one of his own to keep the game tied, 59-59.

The tension between the teams, who had a very physical game the last time they faced each other, resulted in a double technical foul with 11:30 left when Pirates F George Bush and Buglione engaged in a verbal sparring match at half court.

It was at that point that Patriots F Louis McCullough decided to take matters into his own hands.

Schweitz juggled his lineup, putting McCullough, normally a SF, in at PF. This forced Pirates C Bryan Taylor to have to come out and guard him at the 3-point line.

McCullough hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, bracketing one by Pirates G Justin Wood, to put the Patriots ahead, 65-62, with 10:28 left.

"I always try to do whatever I’m asked to for our team, and McCullough plays the same way," commented Pirates F Daryl Williams. "His coach asked him to take some big shots, and he hit them; that’s what he’s done all season for them."

A basket by Sanders put the Pirates within 1, 74-73, with 6:50 left, but Buglione scored twice to put the Patriots back up by 5, 78-73, with 6:00 left in the game.

Bain hit three 3-pointers for the Pirates over the next five minutes, the last one coming with 1:09 left on the clock and pulling the Pirates back within 1, 85-84.

On their next possession, the Patriots misplayed the ball, giving it back to the Pirates with only :41 left. Following a miss by Bain on a heavily contested shot in the lane, McCullough grabbed the loose ball and drew a foul, sending him to the line for two free throws and a chance to clinch the game.

"I thought the first one felt pretty good when I released it," stated McCullough, who missed the first free throw but connected on the second. "Once that one came out, I knew I was going to hit the second. I don’t miss very many free throws."

The free throw by McCullough provided the margin of victory and gave the Patriots a two point lead with :08 seconds left in the game.

"We set up the last shot for Jason [Sanders] to take it off a high screen by Daryl [Williams]," recalled Burkhamer. "They defended it very well, and Jason wasn’t able to get off a clean shot."

The missed shot by Sanders bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded, ending a great season by the Pirates and allowing the Patriots to continue theirs.

"I’m proud of our team, especially our seniors," stated Burkhamer. "They played a great game, just as they played great all season. Our freshman got to experience what it’s like to have postseason success, and we hope they remember it and do what it takes to get back here next year."

-Pirates-