Box Score A Spencer Shoffner driving layup in the final seconds broke a 62-62 tie and gave Maryville College an upset victory over top seeded Averett University by the score of 64-62 in the 2015 USA South men's basketball tournament hosted in Danville, Virginia.
Trailing 59-57 with 2:58 remaining, Maryville's Calvin Songster hit the front end of a one-and-one. A Tanner Torres layup off a Cougar turnover gave MC a 60-59 advantage with 2:23 left to play. Averett's Bradley Robinson connected on a three-pointer with a minute to play and the Scots' Jaumonee Byrd set up Shoffner's game winning shot with a jump shot and steal.
Maryville went to the half with a slight 33-31 advantage. Shoffner posted 13 of his 15 points before the intermission while going 5-for-8 from the field. Averett kept the pressure on by hitting 41% of their shots before going to the second period.
The Scots connected on 11-of-18 shots (61%) from the floor to close out the victory while taking advantage of their free throws by depositing 7-of-10 (70%). Jaumonee Byrd and Calvin Songster combined for 21 second half points on a collective 8-for-9 shooting effort.
Averett (18-9) was paced by Trevor West's game-high 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting. The guard also dished out a game-high six assists. Bradley Robinson added 18 while hitting over 50% from the floor and Cody Stephens tossed in 12 for the Cougars.
Maryville (15-12) relied on the trio of Songster, Shoffner, and Bryd to advance to the USA South finals. Songster was 5-for-8 from the floor with three treys for a team-high 16 points. Shoffner also connected on three from the perimeter for 15 points while Byrd was solid in the post with 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
The No. 4 seeded Scots will advance to the USA South title game to face No. 6 seeded LaGrange College who earlier defeated Methodist 104-90 to advance to the championship game.
The tip-off for the title is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Danville, Virginia.
