ST. AUGUSTINE – A frenetic final six seconds saw a foul whistled on a rebound of a missed layup and Flagler College's
Jeffercy Jean went to the line with three seconds remaining and the score tied at 74. Jean coolly sank both shots and a desperation jumper at the buzzer caromed off the side of the rim to end the game. Flagler came away with a white-knuckle 76-74 win over Young Harris College in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Tuesday afternoon at Flagler Gymnasium.
Flagler improved to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the Peach Belt. The win was the first by Flagler, in six tries, against Young Harris. The Mountain Lions suffered their third straight loss and dropped to 2-8 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
Vaughn McCall sank a pair of free throws to give Flagler a 74-65 lead with 2:45 left to go in the game. However, Young Harris would score nine consecutive points to tie the game at 74. Three Saints turnovers in a row helped the Mountain Lions tie the game. Flagler's
Damerit Brown got sandwiched at center court and Ben Waterhouse stole the ball and found Greg Murphy who missed a layup, but Antonio Wade was able to corral the rebound and put the ball in the hoop to tie the game. Wade was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw that would have given Young Harris the lead.
Murphy grabbed the rebound, but his put-back hit the rim and in the scrum to get the loose ball, Jean was fouled by Murphy.
McCall led four Flagler players in double figures with a game-high 22 points. He made 8 of 11 from the field and added five rebounds and four assists.
Cortlin Davis added 15 points, which included a couple of thunderous slam dunks. Brown added 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Jean finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Waterhouse led the Mountain Lions with 19 points on 8 of 16 shooting from the field. He sank three 3-pointers. Wade added 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Corey Nelson tacked on 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Flagler will take a break for the Christmas holiday and will return to the court on Dec. 30 when it goes on the road to face Georgia College.