The Blue Lights College Thoroughbreds could almost taste their first victory over a ranked opponent Saturday night, until the bitter aftertaste of one that got away kicked in.
Warren Wilson's Jordan Gant broke away to lay in a floater as time expired, lifting the USCAA Division 2 12th-ranked Owls to a 107-105 win over BLC (10-9). The junior guard had been the Thoroughbreds' chief nemesis throughout the game, scoring 41 points in nearly every conceivable way, but none as gut-wrenching as the final two.
The Herd trailed by 12 at the half and the margin was 17 with less than eight minutes left in regulation. That is when BLC's comeback began, tying the game at 105 with 9 seconds to play. But Gant was not to be denied the final dagger.
"I am so so so proud of them," said head coach Mario Pharr. "(The team was) not intimidated in the least. Like I told the boys, if we continue to progress like we have, we're going undefeated until the end of the season with two chips!"
Jorge Garcia led the Lights with 26 points, followed by Mike Maxwell's 18, Darian Williams' 17, and Victor Ngong's 13.
The Thoroughbreds have one regular season game remaining, a road trip Wednesday night to SC Faith, before postseason play begins on February 28.
