The Post and Courier’s Andrew Miller wrote a great piece (McCandies Man Can) in today’s paper regarding the last few moments of the Cougars win over Wofford and Philip McCandies’ efforts. P&C Staffer, Wade Spees risked life and limb to jump in the celebratory mix and get the shot you see here within.
1 comment:
Senior's buzzer beater lifts C of C over Wofford
BY ANDREW MILLER
The College of Charleston's Philip McCandies had never made a game-winning shot in his life. Not as a kid in a recreation league. Not in high school, or with the Cougars.
McCandies nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Jermaine Johnson poured in a career-high 22 points to lead the College of Charleston past Wofford, 77-75, Monday night before a crowd of 3,431 at John Kresse Arena.
The Cougars, who have won five straight and 11 of their last 12, improved to 14-7 overall and 7-2 in the Southern Conference. It was another heartbreaking loss for the Terriers, who dropped to 6-14 and 1-8.
Trailing by a single point with 8.6 second left in regulation, College of Charleston coach Bobby Cremins drew a play up for point guard Dontaye Draper during the timeout. But just as the Cougars broke the huddle, Cremins leaned over and told McCandies not to hesitate to take the shot if he was open.
Draper, who recorded the first double-double of his career with 22 points and a career-high 11 assists, immediately drew a double from the Wofford defense at the top of the key. Draper took two hard dribbles down the lane and passed the ball back to McCandies, who had set a screen and drifted to the right.
The Winston-Salem, N.C., native took his coache's advice, didn't hesitate, and drilled the shot for the game-winner.
"It's a screen-and-roll for Dontaye," McCandies said. "Dontaye penetrates and gets a shot or he kicks it out. He kicked it out to me. I got a good look, and it felt good once it left my hand."
As the ball went through the hoop, McCandies raised his hands triumphantly, and seconds later was mobbed at center court by the Cougars student section.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," McCandies said. "I've never done that before. That's my first game-winner. I hit that shot all the time in practice, so I was confident I could make it."
McCandies' shot capped a roller-coaster night for the Cougars, who trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half.
"That's why I came back into coaching for nights and shots like that," Cremins said. "I would have hated to have missed a moment like that. It was a great basketball game. I was not shocked at the way Wofford came out and play. We didn't make it easy on ourselves, but it was great to see a senior like Philip McCandies make a shot like that.
was not shocked at the way Wofford came out and played. We didn't make it easy on ourselves, but it was great to see a senior like Philip McCandies make a shot like that.
"Dontaye could have forced the shot, but instead he relaxed and made a beautiful pass to Philip and he was wide open. I don't blame Wofford for double-teaming Dontaye, that's what I would have done."
McCandies' game-winningheroics were set up after Wofford's Junior Salters connected on a3-pointer to give the Terriers a75-74 lead with nine seconds left in the game.
Wofford's Shane Nicholsattempted a 3-pointer from the top of the key, but his shot bounced hard off the back of the rim. Tyler Whatley got the rebound, threw it back out to Salters, who hit the 13th 3-pointer on the night for the Terriers.
"Once (Salters) got the ball, I knew he was going to hit it," Cremins said.
"Wofford can really shoot the ball."
The College of Charleston came out sluggish, yet again, in the first half, trailing at one point, 35-17, in the first half. Wofford's Eric Marshall, the team's leading scorer, hurt his knee with three minutes left before halftime as the Cougars went on a 14-2 run to end the half and trailed just 37-31 at intermission.
The Cougars built a 55-50 lead midway in the second half, but the Terriers answered with a 17-4 run and held a 67-59 lead on Salters' 3-pointer with 6:48 left in regulation.
"We never gave up," Draper said. "We just kept battling and playing good defense."
The Cougars went on a 10-0 run of their own and held a 69-67 lead on Draper's free throw with 3:37 remaining in the game.
3-Point Field Goals - Wofford 13-28 (Gibson 1-3, Salters 4-8, Nichols 1-6, Marshall 2-3, O'Connor 0-1, Estep 3-5, Godzinski 2-2); Charleston 6-19 (Lawrence 0-4, McCandies 1-1, Draper 3-9, Hammond 1-3, White Jr. 1-2). Steals - Wofford 4 (Marshall, 2); Charleston 4 (Johnson, 2). Blocks - Wofford 0; Charleston 2 (Lawrence, McCandies 1). Turnovers - Wofford 12 (Gibson, 4); Charleston 5 (Draper, 5). Technicals - None. A - 3,431.
Reach Andrew Miller at 937-5599 or apmiller@postandcourier.com.
Post a Comment