Robinson and Thurman Help Flyers Nip Late Bulldog Rally
The Sandhills Community College basketball team wound up the 2022 portion of its schedule on a high note on Thursday, defeating Pitt Community College 89-87 in Greenville.
A 17-point Flyers lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the game had all but disappeared when LeNijel Robinson blocked a potential go-ahead layup in transition by one of the Bulldogs. Teammate Jamori McDougald grabbed the loose ball and was fouled with 6.3 seconds remaining in the game.
The freshman split a pair at the charity stripe and then stole the ball in the back court to preserve the victory.
Robinson, with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaquan Thurman, 16 and 10, both recorded their team-high fourth double-doubles of the season to lead Coach Mike Apple's squad.
"We did a good job of building the lead and a poor job of holding it," Apple said afterward. "But it's a win against a quality team on the road and we'll take it."
The No. 3 ranked in Division III Flyers improved to 12-2, including a 6-0 mark against Division II teams. The DII Bulldogs dropped to 6-4 after their second loss of the season to the Flyers.
Next is a 3 p.m. New Years Day game at The Hangar against Davidson-Davie CC that will be live-streamed via ESPN Plus. The No. 1 ranked in DII, and 11-0 Storm, also had a close call this week, defeating Louisburg College 97-94 on Thursday.
The Flyers maintained a single-digit lead throughout most of the first half before falling behind 30-28 with 2:20 remaining. They knotted things up at 30-30 on a base line drive by Bryan Quiller. A moment later, a three by Robinson gave them a lead they nearly, but never did surrender.
Leading 43-38 early in the second half, a three by Joey McMullin ignited a 12-2 run that expanded the advantage to 55-40. Later, a trey by McDougald gave the Flyers their largest lead at 69-52 at the nine-minute mark.
The outcome still appeared to be in the safe zone for the Flyers after a drive for two by Thurman made it 77-62 with six minutes remaining. It was 88-81 when McMullin made their last field goal of the game on a putback at the 1:30 mark, leading up to the anxious final seconds.
McMullin finished with 11 points. The assist leader was McDougald with six. Robinson also contributed four steals.
The two teams ahead of the Flyers in this week's rankings are No. 1 Brookdale CC (NJ), 11-0, and No. 2 Herkimer CC (NY), 9-1.
C. Bergmann