Rankins gets steal, 2 free throws in finals seconds to lift Savannah State over Longwood 68-66
By APSaturday, January 23, 2010
Savannah State defeats Longwood 68-66
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Tracy Rankins made a steal and two free throws in the final 2 seconds, and Savannah State beat Longwood 68-66 on Saturday.
Patrick Hardy had 17 points, Preston Blackmon added 13 and Rankins had 12 for the Tigers (8-12), who have won three straight games.
Trailing 36-35, the Tigers went on an 11-4 run to grab their largest lead of the game at 47-39 on a jumper by Hardy with 13:44 to play. Longwood answered with a 9-1 run and neither team led by more than three points the rest of the way.
Longwood grabbed a 66-64 lead on a basket and free throw by Antwan Carter with 16 seconds left. Preston Blackmon made two free throws for the Tigers with two seconds to play to tie the game 66-66, setting up Rankins’ heroics.
Dana Smith scored 20 points and Carter added 17 for the Lancers (4-16), who lost their third straight game and their seventh in the past eight.
