Pirates dunk Patriots in PBC Quarterfinals 68-66

AIKEN, SC – Armstrong Atlantic State University senior forward Calvin Wilson scored on a fast-break dunk with 3.9 seconds left and Francis Marion University’s Anthony Wallen rimmed out a potential game-winning three-pointer at the final horn as the third-seeded Pirates escaped with a thrilling 68-66 win over the sixth-seeded Patriots, Friday evening (March 6) in the quarterfinals of the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.

AASU (23-5) advances to face the USC Aiken/Clayton State University winner in the second semifinal game on Saturday at 8 p.m. in the USCA Convocation Center.

Francis Marion ends its second-most successful season this decade with a 16-12 mark. Senior 6-9 center Stanley Jones led FMU with 14 points, all coming in the final 20 minutes. Senior 6-7 forward Kevin Clark, an All-PBC pick, added 12 points and 12 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the year.

Wilson finished with a game-high 25 points, but none more important than the last two, helping AASU overcome some free-throw misses down the stretch. Wilson went 9-for-13 from the floor as part of his 25 points, while All-PBC selection Dwight Tolbert added 11 points.

Patriot senior guard Houston Power had tied the score at 66-66 on two free throws with 11 seconds left. FMU trapped Pirates guard Gabriel Robinson at the half-court line, but he found T.T. Hall who fed Wilson for the two-handed slam.

Without any timeouts, FMU quickly pushed the ball up the floor, but Wallen’s three-pointer from 23-feet out on the right wing was on-line, but just a fraction too long.

Both teams struggled mightily on the offensive end in the opening 11 minutes – AASU led 12-10. The Pirates did finally warm up, but not FMU, as AASU stormed to a 40-24 halftime advantage. Francis Marion connected on only 8-of-25 shots in the opening stanza and committed eight turnovers.

For the game, the Patriots beat AASU on the glass 46-34, including doubling up the Pirates on the offensive boards (16-8). Armstrong Atlantic took better care in their opportunities, hitting 41.7 percent (20-of-48) from the floor, while FMU was just 36.1 percent (22-of-61).

Faced with elimination, the Patriots responded in the second half and cut the 16-point lead to three (at 50-47) with a 23-10 run, capped by three-straight offensive rebounds and a Stanley Jones jumper in the paint.

A three-pointer by Wallen completed the comeback and tied the score at 57-57 with 5:02 remaining. Wallen hit three triples in the final half.

AASU led by five (64-59) with 58 ticks left, but Power made four free throws and Clark banked in a three-pointer from the top-of-the-key, to knot the score at 66-66.

“I was disappointed in our play in the first half, but then equally as proud of the way we fought back in the second half,” said FMU head coach Gary Edwards. “It was an exciting game, as have been all three meetings with Armstrong this season. We showed character and fight and gave ourselves a chance to win. Anthony got a good look at the final buzzer.

“I am proud of the way our guys played this season, especially when undermanned at times. We played inspired basketball down the stretch.”

“On the last play, we wanted to be aggressive as opposed to being passive as we were in the final seconds of the game in Florence when AASU scored late on a layup to force overtime. Their guys just came up with a great play and beat our pressure.”