Greensboro, N.C. – Winthrop was a trendy pick to upset second-seeded Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But those predictions forgot to take Chris Lofton into account.
Lofton has hit big shots all season for the Volunteers. And Thursday, falling out of bounds, with a hand in his face on the right baseline, fans on the edge of their seats and a game hanging in the balance, the sophomore guard came through again.
Lofton’s 3-pointer with 0.4 of a second left buoyed the Vols’ escape from first-round elimination, lifting them past Winthrop 63-61.
“We executed perfect,” Lofton said. “I just got open and knocked the shot down. (The defender) had pretty good defense on me. I just saw the goal and fired it up there.”
Major Wingate led Tennessee (22-7) with 15 points. Lofton and Andre Patterson each added 12.
Tennessee’s No. 2 seed had been questioned, as had the quality of its team, which players said they used as inspiration.
“It just gave us more motivation once people were doubting us,” guard C.J. Watson said.
GEORGE WASHINGTON 88,
UNC-WILMINGTON 85, OT
George Washington needed a stifling press and a lot of energy to come from 18 points down in the second half and win in overtime.
Tied at 36 at halftime, UNC-Wilmington blitzed the Colonials (27-2) to start the second half, leading 64-46 with 11:11 left.
But George Washington went to the full-court trapping press that had become its staple during the regular season, forcing turnovers and getting easy baskets. With 6:58 left, it had come back to take a 65-64 lead. The teams traded baskets before GW pulled ahead in overtime.
Six of the eight players who played for GW scored in double figures, led by 20 points from Maureece Rice and 16 points and nine rebounds from Omar Williams.
Forward Pops Mensu-Bonsu, GW’s second-leading scorer and rebounder, came back from knee surgery to start the game and finish with 10 points and three rebounds in 27 minutes.
DUKE 70, SOUTHERN 54
Top overall seed Duke used big games from J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams and a 13-1 run in the second half to pull away from Southern.
The Jaguars kept the game close for about 25 minutes before Duke’s run. Redick scored eight points in the spurt for Duke (31-3).
Williams has 29 points and 18 rebounds. Redick had 29 points.
The Blue Devils face George Washington on Saturday.
