Contributed
(Jan. 15, 2010)

CENTRAL, S.C. - Faulkner saw a 13-point lead evaporate in the final five minutes but got a free throw from Langston Williams with :02 seconds on the clock to escape with an 80-79 victory over Southern Wesleyan on Thursday night in a key Southern States Athletic Conference game.

The Warriors (6-6, 1-4 SSAC) tied the game in the closing seconds on a Tae Roebuck putback of a missed free throw. After a Faulkner heave at the buzzer was off the mark, the officials decided to put :02 back on the clock due to the clock starting late on the missed foul shot. The Eagles then drew a foul on the Southern Wesleyan player guarding the inbounder, and Williams hit one of the free throws to provide the winning margin.

Faulkner (9-6, 2-2 SSAC) celebrated the victory, while Southern Wesleyan players and coaches were livid at the late foul call. The Warrior comeback was made possible by the incredible play of Nick Lagroone, who finished with 37 points. Nikola Lambic added 13 for the Warriors. The Eagles, who led the entire way and had a 13-point advantage at the half, were paced by Drew Boland’s 13 points, Williams’ 12 points and Oneil Mangal’s 11.

Faulkner outrebounded Southern Wesleyan by a whopping a whopping 37-21 count, and won despite committing 31 turnovers. The Eagles did force the Warriors into 27 of their own.

The Eagles host Truett-McConnell Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.