By Brackin Lambert
uscbathletics.com
BLUFFTON — USCB men’s basketball had a chance to tie the game with less than 10 seconds remaining when Shea Champine went up for a 3-pointer, but a no-call followed by a turnover helped Georgia Southwestern escape The Cove with an 84-79 victory over the Sand Sharks on Saturday.
“It was a hard-fought game, really proud of our effort,” USCB coach Ron Fudala said. “We responded well, with a boost of energy and our guys were ready to play. We’ll go back to the drawing board to solidify a couple of things, but this league is tough. Every night you’re going to get everyone’s best shot, we just have to be ready for it.”
Larry Bulluck led USCB with 14 points after hitting a couple of late 3-pointers, and Marcus Overstreet picked up his fifth double-double of the year with 11 points and 11 boards, while Qurahn Anderson and Champine added 10 points apiece.
The Sand Sharks’ lead grew as large as 12 with under six remaining in the first half, but the Hurricanes battled back within two at the break and took their first lead of the game on the opening possession of the second half.
Georgia Southwestern pushed its lead to nine, but Beaufort continued to push back. Champine knocked down four straight from the charity stripe to tie it up at 59, and Anderson threw down his second thunderous dunk off a steal to put USCB on top and send shockwaves through The Cove, but Jordon Johnson hit a triple from the top of the key to put GSW back up by three and the Sand Sharks fell for the third straight game.
USCB (8-4, 1-3) will travel to Milledgeville on Wednesday for a conference road game against Georgia College and then head to North Georgia on Saturday.
