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Kyle O'Quinn
Jerry Altares

Men's Basketball Matt Michalec, SID

O’Quinn’s Last-Second Shot Lifts Spartans over Maine, 72-71

Kyle O'Quinn had 15 points and hit the winner with 5 seconds left.

Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. — Kyle O'Quinn (Jamaica, N.Y.) banked in a layup with five seconds left to cap a wild Norfolk State rally and give the Spartans a 72-71 over Maine in their home opener on Monday night at Echols Hall.

Maine's Gerald McLemore broke a 70-all tie by making 1-of-2 free throws with 27 seconds left. After a missed jumper and a timeout, Brandon Wheeless (Stone Mountain, Ga.) took the inbounds pass, drove down the left side of the lane and dished to O'Quinn, who was open for the go-ahead layup with five seconds left. Maine guard Junior Bernal got off a hurried shot that fell short of the rim as time expired.

The Black Bears (1-1) led by as many as 14 points in the second half, 52-38, after a 3-pointer by Sean McNally with 11:43 remaining. The Spartans (1-1) slowly crept back in it by forcing an up-tempo game and getting the ball into the hands of Rob Hampton (Queens, N.Y.), who scored 15 of his team-high 17 points after halftime. His third 3-pointer of the second half forced the period's first tie at 66-all with 2:00 left.

McLemore answered with a 3-pointer of his own, and Andrew Rogers hit 1-of-2 free throws with 45 seconds left to give Maine a 70-67 lead. Wheeless was fouled at the other end and hit the first free throw. He missed the second, but O'Quinn tipped in the miss to tie the contest at 70-all.

NSU fouled McLemore on the ensuing inbounds pass, but the sharpshooter missed the second of his two foul shots to set the stage for the frantic final seconds.

McLemore had a game-high 24 points. After hitting just 1-of-8 in the first half, he hit 7-of-8 (4-of-5 from long range) in the second half. Terrance Mitchell added 16 points and McNally had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Black Bears.

Hampton had 17 points and six rebounds for the Spartans, who shot 56 percent from the floor for the game. O'Quinn had his second career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The sophomore forward was 7-of-8 from the floor, blocked two shots and had two steals. Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.) was the third Spartan in double figures, with 12 points.

NSU returns to action on Saturday night at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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