Jan. 29, 2007
PENSACOLA, Fla. - With the score tied at 62, Brian Johnson converted a three-point play with nine seconds remaining to lift Claflin to a 65-62 triumph over West Florida Monday at the UWF Field House. Claflin trailed by as many as 13 early in the second half. West Florida (8-11) dropped their sixth straight, while Claflin improved to 8-11.
After Jerome Starr's jump shot cut the West Florida lead to 60-59 with 1:55 remaining, Barry Durosier (Orlando, Fla./Niagara Univ.) took an inbounds pass from Marcus Grant (Axis, Ala./Faulkner State CC) and finished a lay up to give West Florida a three-point lead. But Starr responded with a game-tying three-point field goal at the 1:24 mark.
On the ensuing possession, Durosier grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed three-point field goal, but he was unable to finish a lay up. Johnson followed with the three-point play to give Claflin the lead. Durosier's three-point attempt with four seconds remaining fell short as the Panthers held on for the win.
Claflin, a provisional member of the NCAA Division II from Orangeburg, S.C., started the game on an 8-0 run. But West Florida immediately responded with an 11-3 run that was capped by Grant's three-point play. With West Florida leading 18-15 with 5:18 remaining in the first half, Andy Beauchamp (Miami, Fla./Florida Community College at Jacksonville) scored four points as part of a 9-2 run as the Argonauts extended to a 10-point lead. West Florida led by 13 early in the second half and held a 47-37 advantage with 13:50 remaining in the game. At that point, Claflin went on a 14-6 run to cut the West Florida lead to two.
Durosier led West Florida with a game-high 25 points. It was his 14th game of scoring at least 20 points. Daniel Alcorn (Mt. Washington, Ky./Bullitt East HS) contributed 11 points, while Beauchamp collected 10 points and three blocks. Ernest Sinkfield, who was held scoreless in the first half, finished with a team-high 17 points for Claflin.
West Florida will return to Gulf South Conference action on Saturday against North Alabama. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. CST at the UWF Field House. The game will be broadcast on AM 1620 and streamlined on www.sportsjuice.com. Go to the men's basketball home page on www.goargos.com to listen and to follow the game with live stats.