Dec. 22, 2007

Box Score

Las Vegas, Nev. - Dominique Whatley's three-point basket with 0.7 seconds remaining in the game lifted Bethune-Cookman University over the University of Texas-Pan American, 56-54 in the second game of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic inside the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

Trailing by 13 points at 49-36 with eight minutes remaining in the contest, Bethune-Cookman (5-6) started one of the greatest comebacks in the Clifford Reed, Jr. era at B-CU.

Dominique Whatley's three-pointer from the top of the key would be symbolic as he would both start and end the run for the `Cats. His three-pointer cut the lead to 49-39, while his second three-pointer just four two minutes later to cut the deficit to five.

Texas-Pan American (6-9) used Brian Burrell to push their advantage back out to 51-44 with 4:20 left in the contest.

The Broncs of UTPA played hard defense on B-CU leading scorer Jimmy Hudson all afternoon in his first game back with the Wildcats since going down to injury just before the Southeastern game back on Dec. 10. He would finish with a season-low four points in the game on just 1-for-8 shooting from the field.

Whatley, in fact, hit a driving lay-up with 2:17 remaining to cut the Broncs lead to 51-49.

UTPA answered right back moments later when Danny Puente connected on his only basket of the season with a long-range three-pointer to push their lead back out to 54-49.

On the ensuing possession, B-CU used John Holmes on the low blocks once again to garner another basket, and a chance at a three-point play with the foul. The free throw was missed, however, and B-CU trailed 54-51.

After Josh Cummings came off the bench to stab a jumper just inside three-point range with 30 ticks left in the contest, B-CU was down just 54-53.

UTPA had a chance to ice the game when Puente stepped to the line with 25 seconds left, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Wildcats John Holmes collected the rebound, and B-CU elected not to call a timeout as they seemed in perfect rhythm for the final shot of the game.

The play was not run to perfection as Puente knocked the ball away from Cummings who was supposed to step into the last shot. As Puente and Cummings battled for the ball near the mid-court line, it was Whatley coming up with the loose ball and matched himself up against UTPA's Paul Stoll for the final shot.

The shot was contested, but Whatley's look was good enough to hit nothing but the bottom of the net with 0.7 seconds remaining in the contest. UTPA did have a time-out remaining, but elected to try and heave a desperation shot up the court instead--with the shot falling well short of the intended target.

For the Wildcats, the victory ended their two-game non-conference losing streak ... and gave them their first win west of the Mississippi since defeating Louisiana-Lafayette back on Dec. 18, 2002 in Lafayette, La.

For B-CU, they trailed the final 12 minutes of the first half, and all the way until Whatley's buzzer-beater at the end. The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the beginning as point guard Joey Woods and Holmes touched the scoring column for the `Cats right off the bat.

UTPA would counter later in the half as Hawkins was just brutal, alongside Trader, down low with 12 points in the first half alone.

The Broncs would extend their lead out to 28-21 at the half, before pushing it out to as many as 15 (41-26) with 12:24 left in the game.

Even down 13 points at the under eight-minute timeout, Coach Reed continued to pound into his players minds that UTPA was getting tired on defense with the Wildcats screens and slowed-down pace. He also stated that they were in perfect shape for the win. Obviously, Reed believed even when it seemed all lost for B-CU.

Only B-CU fans and Coach Reed--and the team, were believers on this afternoon. And beliefs, as everyone in central Florida knows, can always turn into reality at almost any time with the sprit of one Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune on the side of the Wildcats.

For the Broncs, they were led by Nathan Hawkins with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds as he was the Wildcat killer for almost the entire game in the painted area. Behind him was Burrell and Zach Trader with 10 points each, respectively.

For the `Cats, it was Whatley and more Whatley as he had a season-high 18 points--with 16 of those coming in the final seven minutes of the game. Only Holmes touched double-digits alongside Whatley with 12 points of his own. Holmes added seven rebounds and three assists as well.

For Whatley, he scored 16 of the Wildcats final 20 points of the game. It was, without a doubt, his greatest performance of the year. His previous best was 16 points just five days ago at Iowa State ... also a part of this weekend's Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic played in Ames, Iowa at a campus-site event.

B-CU will now play against Wofford in the title game of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic at 5:30 pm [EST] back inside the Orleans Arena. The game can be viewed via payment at www.JumpTV.com, or listened to live on the Wildcats Broadcast Network through WELE-1380 AM. The website for the broadcast is www.WELE1380.com.