Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Leslie's Miracle Basket Deflates Bonnies in Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - CJ Leslie hauled in a full-court pass in traffic and scored a tough layup with 0.8 seconds left to give NC State (7-4) a 67-65 victory over St. Bonaventure (5-5) at the Blue Cross Arena.
After Eric Mosley drove to the basket and was fouled with just 3.1 seconds left, the Louisville native sank both attempts from the line, tying the game for the ninth time, 65-65. On the ensuing inbounds, NC State's CJ Williams directed a long pass - barely missing the center-court video board - that found Leslie on the left baseline and behind the basket.
Leslie took a dribble and lifted a floater that hit off the rim and fell in as the scoreboard ticked down to zero. Officials reviewed the play and put 0.8 seconds back on the clock.  

NC State deflected the Bonnies' inbound pass to seal the nail-biter.

Andrew Nicholson and Demitrius Conger each scored 16 for St. Bonaventure, while Mosley added 15. NC State's Scott Wood knocked down all eight of his free throws to pace the Wolfpack with a season-high 20 points. Leslie totaled 12 including his game-winner.

Trailing by three with 3:34 to play, Conger and Nicholson converted four straight from the line to give SBU a 60-59 lead with 2:27 left. Wood's jumper gave the Wolfpack a one-point edge before a Williams layup made it a three-point game, 63-60, with 69 ticks left.

Bona senior Da'Quan Cook, who totaled seven points and five boards, found Matthew Wright at the elbow for a 3-pointer that deadlocked for the eighth time.

Wood drew a foul while driving the lane with 38 seconds to go and made both yield a two-point margin.

Nicholson's hook in the paint was off target with just 24 seconds left, as was a Wolfpack free throw with 13 seconds left in regulation. The Bonnies secured the rebound and called their final timeout, working Mosely free for a drive down the lane as time ran low. Mosely's attempt hit high off the back iron and into the basket, but not before glancing off the shotclock, ruling it out of play.

The Bonnies scored the first nine points of the game and led 24-21 at the 8:34 mark of the first half. NC State mounted a 10-0 run capped by back-to-back 3s from Alex Johnson. St. Bonaventure answered by scoring 10 of the next 13 points tie the game, 34-34. NC State reclaimed the lead, but SBU answered again, this time with five straight, including Mosley's jumper that gave the Bonnies a 39-37 lead at the half.

The Bonnies return to the Reilly Center on Friday to host Saint Francis (Pa.).

No comments:

Post a Comment