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Knights stun defending national champs in overtime
February 26, 2008 Hippolyte scored 20 points to lead the Knights to their biggest victory of the season. SAPC finishes the 2007/08 season with a 7-20 overall record and a 6-14 mark in Conference Carolinas play. The top eight teams in the league make the conference tournament this year and SAPC will finish one game out in ninth place. Bulldogs junior Bobby Buffalo (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime to keep the 2007 NCAA Division II national champions in the game late. Barton maintains a 17-9 overall and 13-5 13-6 ledger heading into their regular-season finale against No. 17 nationally Mount Olive College. The Bulldogs host the Trojans on national TV Saturday afternoon at Noon. The largest lead of the game was held by Barton on three separate occasions in the first half including a 35-27 advantage at halftime. Junior Errol Frails helped the Bulldogs take an eight-point lead into the locker room scoring 12 of his 19 points in the first 20 minutes. The Knights quickly bounced back and tied the game for the eighth time just four minutes into the second half on a lay-up by Hippolyte. A two-point basket by sophomore L.J. Dunn (Raleigh, N.C.) gave the visitors a five-point lead (64-59) in the final two and half minutes of regulation but St. Andrews never quit and went on a 7-0 run to take a two-point lead in the final minute. Hippolyte had another lay-up followed by a three-pointer by junior Joseph Gripper (Charlotte, N.C.) to tie the game. On the ensuing Knights possession, sophomore Ron Deas (Clayton, N.C.) had a clutch put-back on a missed three-pointer to give SAPC its first lead in six minutes. Knights’ junior Charles Phillips (Decatur, Ga.) made three of four free throws in between a Buffalo hoop to give the hosts a three-point advantage in the final 20 seconds. After a Buffalo made free throw, freshman teammate Greg Mammel (San Antonio, Texas) corralled an offensive rebound on a missed second free throw by Buffalo. SAPC was whistled for another foul with 6.4 seconds on the clock and Frails drilled both freebees to tie at 69-69 and force overtime. In the five-minute extra period, Buffalo hit a three pointer with three minutes left to tie the game at 74-74. However, the Knights defense held Barton without a field goal in the final three minutes while the Knights offense scored seven more points to hold on for the three-point victory. Mammel, who had 10 points including two 3-pointers, missed a potential game-tying three-pointer to force a second overtime. St. Andrews rallied from the eight-point halftime deficit by shooting 60.0-percent in the second half and 48.4% for the game. The Bulldogs, who only made two shots in overtime, shot 42.9% from the floor. The Knights had assists on more than half of their made shots. Lee added, “We shot the ball extremely well because we passed it well. We seemed to have an urgency to find the open man, who finished plays for us tonight. Barton is the best defensive team in the league and it was of the upmost importance to move the ball.” Senior Brian Leggett (Alexandria, Va.) grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to help the bigger Barton team win the battle of the boards, 46-34. Leggett just missed a double-double with eight points. Along with their hot shooting, the Knights also protected the ball well against a physical Bulldogs team by committing just 11 turnovers. Hippolyte scored his 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting while sophomore Colby Poe (Bennettsville, S.C.) scored 16 points including four 3-pointers. Junior Charles Phillips (Decatur, Ga.) scored all 11 of his points in the second half while freshman Zack Garst (Huntersville, N.C.) scored nine of his 11 after halftime. Deas was the fifth Knight in double-digits with 10 points. Gripper had a team-high eight rebounds for the Knights while Hippolyte pulled down seven. Hippolyte flirted with a triple-double with a game-high seven assists. Buffalo led all players with 23 points while Frails scored 12 of his 19 points on four 3-pointers. Dunn and Mammel followed with 10 points apiece. Junior David King (Raleigh, N.C.) chipped in with eight rebounds. “Ron Lievense [Barton College Head Coach] is an outstanding coach and his teams played hard but it was our turn to win,” concluded Lee. |
“What a great way for our seniors to finish their collegiate careers by defeating the defending national champions in overtime,” said St. Andrews third year head coach Billy Lee. “It was great to see our hard work pay off. We have been knocking on the door all season and its great to close the season with two good wins heading into next year.”