BUZZER BEATER(S): VMI Had To Do It Three Times

((HT: ESPN))

To win in four overtimes over Gardner-Webb

Brian Brown, DJ Covington, and Tim Marshall all had to hit shots to keep their Big South Conference contest going...

And in the 4th free period, it all finally went the Keydets way...


"Bless my guys. I just kept telling them to believe," VMI coach Duggar Baucom said after the game. "Some of those overtimes, we were completely out of it. Miraculous things had to happen and they did. I am super proud of my guys."

And, by the way, other than it being the longest game of the season...
Duggar is the best name we've come across this season...

20-Loss Liberty Makes Tourney

Liberty becomes the second 20-loss team to reach the field of 68. They beat Charleston Southern 87-76 to win the Big South Conference title.

They started the season 0-8 with losses to: Richmond, William and Mary, Georgetown, UC-Irvine, Sam Houston, Southern Miss, Morgan State, and Georgia State. They beat Southern Virginia and then lost to Howard, and Iona to start the season 1-10. They didn't beat a Division I opponent until New Year's Eve when they beat Western Carolina.

But, now, none of that matters... they join Coppin State in 2008 as the only schools with 20 or more defeats in the field of 68.

Their .429 winning percentage (15-20) is the lowest for an NCAA tournament team since Oakland (Michigan) had a 12-18 record (.400) in 2005.

And, still, none of that matters as they join Florida Gulf Coast, Harvard, and Belmont. But, rest assured, they'll play next week in Dayton.

"That's awesome," Head coach Dale Laney said. "We've got the hats, right?"

Here's how they earned the hats...
((HT: ESPN))

BUZZER BEATER: Jerome Hill's Tip In Wins It For Gardner-Webb

Jerome Hill is a hero today on the Gardner-Webb campus in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. 

Hill had 15 points for the Bulldogs and the biggest was his final two, a tip in at the buzzer that capped a wild final minute as Gardner-Webb defeated Big South Conference rival Coastal Carolina 66-65.

Here’s the final minute of the game. (Thanks gwusports.com)

Hill’s 15 points is a career high and the third time he’s reached double figures.  Just a freshman Hill has seen his minutes increase since Gardner-Webb began Big South Conference play. 

Gardner-Webb is now 10-8 overall, 2-2 in the Big South Conference.

OSG Buzzer Beater: Liberty's Burrus Long 3 Wins A Thriller For Flames

Liberty and Charleston Southern met Thursday night in a Big South game. The final three minutes had 5 lead changes so a buzzer beater seemed likely and it was.

With 1.6 seconds left and down 74-72 Liberty had to go the length of the floor to win or tie. The David Minaya, who led the Flames in scoring with 20 points, threw the long pass to Antwan Burris who from 40 feet nailed the 3-pointer to win it for the Flames.

Here's the highlights of the game including the game winner. (Thanks WCSC-TV Charleston, SC)