Knights shock Southern Miss

A.J. Rompza had only scored one point all night against Southern Miss on Saturday. Then he sank the shot that may have changed UCF’s season.

As that ball arced toward the net from the 3-point line, the Knights (18-9, 5-9) were down by two. The moment it tickled the net, the arena exploded in jubilation for a 65-64 win over the second best team in the conference.

“It’s a shot if I make it we win the game, and if I miss it, I get yelled at,” Rompza said. He didn’t even get to see the shot, immediately knocked backward after he released the ball. Then he heard the crowd screaming.

And in one moment, the Knights had redemption over the team that had handed them their most depressing loss of the season just five weeks ago. On that night, in Hattiesburg, Miss., the Golden Eagles (21-7, 9-5) had trounced UCF 86-69.

Saturday night, the Knights had their revenge. So far it’s been the only vengeance the Knights had been able to exact from a team that had beaten it earlier in the season. Twice they’d lost to C-USA leader UAB — the same with Memphis.

But against Southern Miss, the Knights had kept the game close in the second half, despite facing an early deficit. The lead would change eight times in the game. In the waning minutes, the gap closed to the point where the Knights had an opportunity to steal a win after seeing so many narrow losses.

With 11 seconds to play and down 64-62, Marcus Jordan, who with 20 points had led the Knights all night, took the ball and drove for the lane. That’s when he saw Rompza, his longtime teammate from high school, waiting 23-feet away from the net.

And again the Knights proved that shooting percentage means wins, with a 48.9 percent average for the night helping them edge the Golden Eagles.

On that night, reserve player A.J. Tyler had his best game of the season, hitting 14 points and picking up 2 rebounds. Keith Clanton had 9 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.

On Wednesday night the Knights played their final home game of the regular season after press time against SMU. They travel to Marshall to close out the regular season at 7 p.m. Saturday.

On March 9, the C-USA Championship begins in El Paso.

Rollins

In their final game of the season, the Tars trounced Lynn 93-68 to win the Sunshine State Conference title. It was the second straight for the Tars.

They entered the Sunshine State Conference Tournament on Wednesday with a 22-6 overall record and a 13-3 record in the conference. They faced Barry at press time Wednesday. The semifinal and final start this weekend in Melbourne. Then the NCAA Division II Tournament awaits.