Wednesday, February 21, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Travis Jarome, Sports Information Director

NORTH GEORGIA WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE GAME
Wehunt returns, Trice steals the show

Aiken, SC - North Georgia College & State University used a big second half run and carried that momentum into overtime, defeating USC Aiken 70-67 in the final game in The Courthouse Wednesday night.

A week after ending their 15-game losing streak, the Saints won their third consecutive game Wednesday by using an 18-2 run late in the second half to force overtime.

Trailing 54-41 with 5:04 remaining in the contest, the Saints started their run on the back of Anthony Rowe. The sophomore post player from England ignited the run with a short jumper with 4:39 remaining, cutting the deficit to 54-43. Junior Xavier Trice caught fire over the final three minutes of regulation, hitting two free throws with 3:26 remaining to trim the lead to 54-45.

Jay Anderson, who was contained for most of the night, hit two free throws with 2:06 remaining to trim the lead to 54-47. On the next possession, Trice hit a short jumper in the lane was fouled on the play. He converted the free throw, and the Saints were within four at 54-50 with 1:40 remaining in the contest. In the midst of a North Georgia 9-0 run, Aiken's Shawn Taylor extended the lead back to six at 56-50 with 1:24 remaining.

Kingsley Oguchi extended the lead to 57-50 with just 56 seconds remaining, and the game seemed all but over. However, after Kingsley missed the back end of the two shots, North Georgia's Anderson gathered the rebound and started their next possession. The possession paid off as Trice hit a three-pointer with just 41 seconds remaining, trimming the lead to 57-53. Mark Brown hit two free throws for USC Aiken, extending the lead to 59-53 with 40 seconds remaining, but Trice stole the show in the final 40 seconds for the Saints.

The junior from Atlanta hit back-to-back three-pointers, the first with 35 seconds remaining that trimmed the lead to 59-56 and the second with 20 seconds remaining that tied the game and forced overtime.

In the extra period, the Saints outscored USC Aiken 11-8 to gather the victory. The overtime period was a back-and-forth chess match, until Jakirra Millsap stepped to the line with just six seconds remaining and a 67-67 tie. The junior from Buford missed the front end of the two shots, but was able to knock down the second free throw to give North Georgia a 68-67 lead with just six seconds on the clock.

Trice stepped forward to make sure the Saints would win the game, when he stole the ball from Richard Glover and was fouled. He would hit both free throws for the final margin of victory with just one second remaining on the clock.

North Georgia shot 40.8 (20-for-49) percent from the floor, and just 21.1 (4-for-19) percent from behind the arc. They also shot a blistering 81.3 (26-for-32) percent from the free throw line in the victory.

USC Aiken shot just 36.9 (24-for-65) percent from the floor and 20.7 (6-for-29) percent from behind the arc.

Casey McMasters led USC Aiken with 23 points, while Seth Leonard scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Taylor chipped in with 10 points in the loss.

North Georgia was led by Trice with a game-high 31 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor, 4-of-6 from behind the arc and 9-of-9 shooting from the free throw line. Ryan Franklin added 13 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the free throw line, while Rowe added 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Anderson 11 points in the win.

Senior Buzz Wehunt returned after missing the last two months due to injuries suffered in an automobile accident over the Christmas break. The senior went 1-for-4 from the field for two points.

North Georgia (7-19, 3-12 PBC) will play its final regular season game Saturday afternoon at 2 pm. The Saints will honor their three seniors in Wehunt, Franklin and Dustin David prior to tip-off.

-NGCSU-

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