Recap of A&T/FAMU from the TD....
www.rattlernews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2...02100326/1002/SPORTSThe ball didn't even make it to the rim.
"Air ball, Air ball," chanted the Florida A&M fans at Gaither Gymnasium.
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There was also plenty of laughter at the sight of the 6-9, 220 pound center missing a free throw so badly.
It was Thomas Coleman, however, who left Tallahassee with the last laugh Monday evening after he sank two free throws to lift his North Carolina A&T Aggies past the Rattlers 80-78 in double overtime.
Coleman was fouled by FAMU senior guard Leslie Robinson with 1.1 seconds left in double overtime.
Thomas, who was 0 for 2 on his previous trip to the line, including the air ball, swished both shots to give his team the lead.
The Rattlers, who at one point in the first half led by as many 16 points, tried to get off a desperation shot, but junior Joe Ballard's long inbounds pass was picked off by Aggies guard Steve Rush.
"That's a tough way to get beat," Ballard said after the game. "The guy that made the free throws shot an air ball before. It is kind of a heart-breaking loss."
It's an even tougher loss considering the Rattlers (8-14, 4-5 in the MEAC) missed an opportunity to potentially move into a tie for fourth place in the conference standings.
The Aggies (12-10, 6-3) held on to third place with the come-from-behind win.
Although the game was won by a reserve post player, Saturday's game featured two of the best backcourts in the conference as well as the top two 3-point shooters in Robinson and Rush.
The two guards did not disappoint those who got to see the game Saturday evening. Robinson went on a tear first, knocking down six 3-pointers in the first half to lead all scorers with 20 points at halftime.
The Aggies locked in on Robinson in the second half, however, holding him to just five points.
"There was more face guarding and denying me the ball," said Robinson, who still finished with a game-high 25 points. "I pretty much knew they would come out and do that. They did a good job in the second half defensively."
Rush, who was held to zero 3-pointers in the first half, nailed three in the second half, including two from NBA range and beyond. Rush ended up leading his team with 21 points.
"He (Rush) hit some big shot in the second half," said FAMU men's basketball coach Eugene Harris. "What really hurt us was our inside people started doubling up and leaving people open inside. North Carolina A&T took the fight to us in the second half and we didn't respond.
"I have to give credit to A&T," Harris said. They did a terrific job taking us out of our offense. We played some guys in more minutes than what we wanted to, but we just didn't finish the basketball game. "
