WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -
Brandon Poore hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds to lift Warner University men's basketball team to a 62-60 road victory over Northwood University in the quarterfinal round of The Sun Conference Tournament on Thursday night. The win is the third in a row for the Royals who reach 20 wins (20-9) for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The Seahawks' season comes to an end at 18-12 overall.
The Seahawks opened the game on a 14-4 run over the first six minutes and led 15-9 at the second media timeout.
Brandon Poore capped off an 8-0 run at the 7:01 mark that tied the game at 15-15.
Trailing 20-19 with 2:56 to go before halftime,
Antonio Ansley put the Royals ahead with a three pointer. Then Poore connected on two free throws a minute later as the Royals scored five straight points and led 24-22 at the break.
Poore (7) and
Eddie Delegal (10) combined for 17 of Warner's 24 points in the first half.
It was a back and forth start to the second half as the Royals extended their lead to as many six points three minutes in only to see the Seahawks retake the lead at the 10:05 mark, 40-39. With 7:30 left on the clock, Northwood held a 49-42 advantage. An 11-3 run by the Royals, however, put Warner back in front by one, 53-52.
Ansley drained a three pointer with 1:49 left and Delegal followed with a jumper to put Warner ahead by four, 60-56, with 57 seconds left. After a quick bucket by the Seahawks to make it a two point game with 41 seconds to go, the Northwood defense forced a turnover and Marcus Hardy tied the game, 60-60, on a tip-in with five seconds on the clock.
Following back to back timeouts by the Royals, Poore took the inbounds pass, crossed half court and pulled up for the game-winner.
Poore's big night ended with 14 points scored on 5-of-9 shooting. Delegal led the Royals' scorers with 16 points and had nine rebounds.
Warren Hall chipped in 10 points in the win as well. He also had seven rebounds and four steals.
The Royals now advance to the tournament semifinals to be held on Monday, March. 2, in Daytona Beach, Fla. on the campus of Embry-Riddle University. The fifth seeded Royals now draw the top seeded and No. 2 Embry-Riddle Eagles who defeated eighth seeded Webber International 96-81 on Thursday night. The Eagles and Royals will tip-off at 7 p.m. from the ICI Center.
