PROVIDENCE JOURNAL-Clutch free throws earn Bryant men their first win of the season

February 19, 2010

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL

Clutch free throws earn Bryant men their first win of the season

By Kevin McNamara
Journal Sports Writer

It's over, at last.

After 26 losses stretched over three-plus long months, the Bryant University basketball team has its first win.

Freshman Raphael Jordan sank two free throws with 0.8 seconds left to break a tie and give the Bulldogs a 53-51 win over Wagner Thursday night.

"I've been put in that situation before, but when that first one went down, everybody on the bench could feel we were going to win," said Jordan, who hit all six of his free throws in the game and finished with eight points.

All season, the Bulldogs had come up empty in their search for a game-saving break in the final minute. That break finally came against the Seahawks. With the game tied at 51-51, Bryant turned the ball over with just under 20 seconds left. Wagner brought the ball up the floor for its chance to go ahead, but with plenty of time left, Josh Thompson hurried a shot near mid-court that hit the low-hanging roof at Spiro Sports Center.

The referees awarded the ball to Bryant with 4.1 seconds left. Jordan caught the inbounds pass, raced toward the hoop and was fouled in the lane with less than one second to play. Then he made the clutch free throws.

"I guess (Thompson) didn't realize how much time was left," said Bryant coach Tim O'Shea. "Raphael caught the pass on the run and clearly got fouled going up for his shot."

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