Late putback lifts Eagles over No. 18 Campbellsville
November 15, 2008
Andrew Williams putback of a De Hereford miss with 2.8 seconds left in the game lifted Faulkner to a 59-57 victory Saturday night over No. 18 Campbellsville in the Jimmy Faulkner Classic at Tine Davis Gymnasium.
For the Eagles (4-1), it was their second consecutive victory over a ranked opponent, having knocked off No. 8 LSU-Shreveport 68-50 Friday night. It was also the fourth consecutive victory after a season-opening loss at Mobile, a fact that certainly pleased head coach Jim Sanderson.
“I think our team is getting better and better and tonight, although we may not have played all that well, we found a way to win,’’ he said. “And that’s something we’ll be able to build on as we head into conference play.’’
either team led by more than six in the game, with Campbellsville taking a 24-22 lead to the locker room at halftime. The Tigers led by six on a couple of occasions in the second half, but the closing minutes were filled with lead changes. A strong baseline move by Faulkner’s Aaron Greenwood gave Faulkner a 52-51 advantage with 3:33 left, but the Pilots’ Zach Allender buried a long three-pointer to put Campbellsville on top 54-52. Hereford hit a runner in the lane to tie it at 54 with 3:09 to play, and Faulkner’s Fred Foster put the Eagles back on top with a rebound basket at the 2:04 mark.
After Campbellsville’s Aaron Wyatt grabbed the lead back for the Tigers with a three-pointer with 1:39 left, Hereford made one of two free throws with 1:06 left to tie at 57. Faulkner then forced a Campbellsville miss, and had the ball with a chance to win it. Holding it for the last shot, Hereford drove the lane but missed from 12 feet. Williams was there, however, for the offensive rebound and bucket that lifted the Eagles to the victory. The Tigers’ Allender had a 45-foot fling at the buzzer that clanged off the rim.
“I saw the shot was gonna miss on the far side, and I had a clear path to get up and put it back in,’’ said Williams, a junior who transferred to Faulkner from Alabama A&M and one of 12 new players on the 2008-2009 Faulkner roster. “Our confidence continues to grow, and we just feel like we’re going to win these type games. We’re still getting to know each other, and we’re playing better together each game.’’
Faulkner was paced by Hereford’s 13 points and three assists. Josh Gholston and Foster added nine apiece for the Eagles, who also got eight each from Randell Moore, Williams and Greenwood. Allender led Campbellsville with 17 points, while Wyatt added 15.
The Eagles open Southern States Athletic Conference play Thursday in Rome, Ga., against Shorter.