Missed FTs prove costly for Gulf Coast

Mississippi Gulf Coast missed four free throws in the final 21 seconds, opening the door for Southwest Mississippi to make a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 76-74 win Monday in Summit.

Melvion Flanagan (Fr., Alexandria La./Peabody) led Gulf Coast with 23 points, and Carr Thiam (Fr., Tampa Fla./Wharton) had 21.

Calvin Johnson (So., Long Beach/Long Beach) had a put-back with 5:04 left to give Gulf Coast a 70-69 lead. After two Southwest free throws, Flanagan scored with 3:20 left followed by a reverse layup a minute later for a 74-71 lead.

Southwest cut the deficit to one with 2:08 to play, then Gulf Coast got a steal on a baseline drive in the final minute. The Bulldogs missed a shot but got a tap-out with 21 seconds left.

Southwest fouled on the inbounds, but Gulf Coast missed two free throws.

The Bulldogs forced a turnover and got sent back to the line with 4.9 seconds left. That set up a 3-pointer from the right wing for Southwest (5-1, 4-1 MACCC South) that beat the buzzer.

Gulf Coast (3-3, 1-3) returns to action Thursday with a trip to Poplarville to play No. 4 Pearl River. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

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