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Point University stuns No. 1 Shorter, 73-72 in East Point
By Matt Green
Box Score (unavailable at time of release)
EAST POINT, Ga. -- Jeremy Mehaffey knocked down two free throws with 3.4 seconds left and Shorter's Walter Hill came up empty on a last second attempt as Point University shocked previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Shorter 73-72 on Thursday night in East Point.
The Skyhawks (9-17) avenged a 99-80 loss to the Hawks in Rome in November and took down the NAIA's last undefeated team. Shorter falls to 22-1 overall as its school-record 22-game win streak came to a heartbreaking end.
Walter Hill and Anthony Banks each posted double-doubles for Shorter. Hill finished with a game-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Banks scored 21 points and also pulled 10 boards, but while Hill and Banks combined to shoot 19-for-28, the remainder of Shorter's roster managed to go 11-for-28.
Ultimately, the Hawks were done in by poor free throw shooting in the second half. Shorter went 2-for-9 from the line in the final 20 minutes and while the Hawks battled back from a nine-point second half deficit, they were never able to sieze control despite taking a one-point lead four times in the final six minutes of the game.
Shasta Scott scored a team-high 18 points for the Skyhawks and his runner gave Point its largest lead of 49-40 with 17:17 to go. Shorter fought back, taking its first lead of the second half on a Banks field goal at the 9:53 mark.
Point used two free throws from Kadeem White and a 3 from Scott to take a four point lead with 3:54 left, but Shorter made one final push. Banks scored on a layup and after a miss by Scott, Hill knocked down a 3-pointer and was fouled by Scott to put the Hawks up 69-68 with 1:59 to go.
With the score tied at 71 and 14 seconds left, Shorter was set to inbound the ball under its own hoop. Hill was whistled for an illegal screen, turning the ball back over to Point. Shorter's Kenny Leverette stole Point's ensuing inbounds pass and was fouled with 7.1 seconds remaining.
Leverette made 1 of 2 to put the Hawks up one, but Mehaffey was fouled after collecting the missed second free throw. The 6-8 forward calmly went to the line and sank both bonus foul shots with 3.4 seconds left and Hill was unable to convert on the other end as time expired.
A fast start by the hosts may have ultimately keyed the upset.
Point shot 47 percent and made seven 3-pointers in the first half to take a 45-38 lead at the break. The Skyhawks cooled off significantly in the second half -- Point made just 31 percent in the final period -- but still made half of their 3-point attempts. Point also took care of the ball, finishing with eight turnovers.
Shorter outshot Point and connected on 54 percent from the floor, but committed 17 turnovers and struggled from the foul line. The Hawks were 8-for-16 from the charity stripe overall.
The Hawks return to Southern States Athletic Conference play on Saturday when they travel to Central, S.C., for a 4 pm tip against Southern Wesleyan. Shorter is still unbeaten in conference play and has a two game lead on No. 3 Southern Poly in the East Division standings.
