Buzzer-beater boots TC from RRAC tourney

Seconds after Texas College pulled even in dramatic fashion, LSU-Shreveport’s Cody Walker sunk a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the Pilots to a 75-72 win over the Steers Friday in the RRAC men’s quarterfinals.

Sparked by Derrick Parker’s 24 points and nine rebounds, the 14th-ranked Pilots put a rare early end to the Steers’ season. The loss marked TC’s first in the opening round of the tournament since 2003. The Steers came within a game of making it to nationals four times in a six-year span before getting eliminated from last year’s event on the eve of the tournament for using an ineligible player after seemingly sewing up an at-large berth to Kansas City.

TC’s last game at the tournament ended in similar fashion, an 86-85 overtime loss to Bacone in the 2010 championship game after losing a seven-point lead in the final 90 seconds. 

TC cut an eight-point deficit with 1:42 remaining down to nothing against LSUS after Jamal Robertson’s 3-pointer, Norman Stewart’s bucket underneath, and Wendell Maye’s clutch trey with four seconds left.

LSUS called a timeout and traveled the length of the floor with three crisp passes, the last a feed from Greg Shyne (19 points) to Walker on the right wing. 

Maye scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Steers.

TC standout senior forward LaDarren Williams (12 points, three rebounds) fouled out near the five-minute mark. Williams played 20 minutes total in his final game of a memorable career that saw him lead the NAIA in blocked shots a year ago.

TC led by as many as five (33-28) in the first half after a trey from Maye, surging ahead despite Williams missing a key 10-minute stretch.

LSUS stole the momentum back with a 15-2 run to end the half.

TC chased most of the second half, falling behind by as many as nine with 5:34 remaining, and staying three shots down nearly four minutes late before a final push.

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No. 14 LSU-Shreveport 75, Texas College 72

TEXAS COLLEGE (17-14)

Wendell Maye 10-15 2-2 26, Hamid Ford 3-6 1-1, Jamal Robertson 3-14 5-5 13, Sherrod Phillips 0-0 0-0 0, Johnny Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Norman Stewart 4-9 0-0 9, Jhirmetrious Cochran 1-7 2-2 4, LaDarren Williams 4-10 3-4 12. Totals 25-61 13-14 72.

LSU-SHREVPORT (23-7)

Isiah Bzille 4-6 2-3 10, DerrickParker 11-20 2-3 24, Greg Shyne 3-13 12-15 19, Cody Walker 2-6 0-0 6, Aubin Young 4-5 0-3 8, Jake Greene 0-0 0-0 0, Rydell Harris 1-3 4-5 6, Jacoby Marshall 0-0 0-0 0, Mark Politte 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 26-58 20-29 75. 

Halftime-LSUS 42, TC 35. 3-Point Goals 9-21 (Maye 4-6, Ford 1-4, Roberson 2-6, Stewart 1-4, Williams 1-1), LSUS 3-7 (Shyne 1-2, Walker 2-3, Politte 0-2). Fouled Out-Williams. Rebounds-TC 35 (Cochran 12), LSUS 38 (Parker 9). Assists-TC 15 (Robertson 8), LSUS 17 (Politte 7). Total Fouls-TC 23, LSUS 15.