Wallace State’s Rashawn Green (10) reacts after hitting the game-winning shot against USC Salkehatchie on Friday. Green finished with 13 points.
HANCEVILLE – Locked in a 59-59 tie in the final seconds, Rashawn Green was one of the Wallace State players instructed to take the final shot for the Lions on Friday.
Green delivered in dramatic fashion. The sophomore from Huntsville corralled a loose ball at the top of the key between two USC Salkehatchie defenders and drained a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired, sending Wallace State to a thrilling 62-59 victory at Tom Drake Coliseum.
Green and the Lions overcame an eight-point deficit in the final 8:30, snapping a three-game losing skid in their first contest since Dec. 17.
“I thought we had three solid options lined up to help us win the game. We had an idea of what Salkehatchie was going to do defensively. There’s an old saying about big-time players making big-time shots in big-time games, and Rashawn stepped up and made a big shot,” said Wallace State men’s coach John Meeks. “These games after Christmas are always dicey because you never know what to expect. We have to ramp up our intensity level before conference play begins next week. If we can do that, we have a chance to make some noise.”
Green scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, nailing three 3-pointers. Sophomore Jaylen McCoy also contributed 13 points for Wallace State (8-9) and freshman Josh Hill had 11.
With 1:51 remaining in the game, Desmian Devane hit a trey to give Wallace State a 58-57 edge, and McCoy added a free throw with 30.9 seconds left to make it 59-57.
USC Salkehatchie’s Deshaw Andrews knocked down a pair of free throws with 19.2 seconds remaining, tying the game at 59-all.
Wallace State had the final answer.
The Lions dribbled through pressure, and Green set up shop at the top of key. As the final seconds ticked away, he momentarily lost control of the ball, corralled it between two Indians’ defenders and nailed the trey from around 30 feet as time expired.
Wallace State led by as many six points in the first half. The game was tied at 24-24 at the break.
Devane and Zach Allison scored seven points apiece for Wallace State.
For the Indians, Vernon Lowndes finished with a game-high 21 points. Austin Stone added 10 points.
After a game today at Cleveland State, Wallace State opens conference play at Gadsden State on Thursday. Meeks and the Lions are the defending ACCC North regular-season champions.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu.
