Monday, November 19, 2007

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- For Belmont, it was a no-brainer.

With the game on the line, the Bruins put the ball in Justin Hare's hands. Hare came through again with a pullup jumper from the free throw line with 2.2 seconds left to beat Alabama 85-83 Monday night in yet another early-season upset by the Atlantic Sun Conference.

It was the 13th time in Hare's career that he has hit a basket to either win a game or force overtime during his four-year career with the Bruins (4-2).

"It'd be pretty bad coaching if I let somebody else try it," Belmont coach Rick Byrd said.

Belmont watched the Crimson Tide erase a nine-point deficit over the final 5 minutes before pulling out the win. Alabama (2-1) tied it on Mykal Riley's two 3-pointers over the final 37 seconds, the second coming with 21 seconds left from well above the top of the key.

Then, Hare drove the ball inside the 3-point line for the game-winning shot. Even with his track record, he said he would savor the shot that gave Belmont its first win over a Southeastern Conference team in 13 tries.