Wednesday, March 17, 2010

TEMPE, Ariz. - Jacksonville completed a furious final-minute rally when Ben Smith hit 24-foot, 3-point shot, off glass, to send the Dolphins past Arizona State, 67-66 in the first round of the NIT.

Read the Atlantic Sun Insider Column associated with this game here.

“It felt good when it left my hand, but I didn’t intend for it to bank,” Smith said. “My teammates gave everything in those last four minutes and we just didn’t want to lose.”

Trailing 60-49 with 3:33 left, Smith saved his best for last, scoring of 12 of his game-high 26 in those final minutes – capping the run with the second game winner of his career.

“He’s been doing it for four years,” said JU head coach Cliff Warren. “Our guys just never gave up late in the game. We kept battling, got some stops and then took advantage of our opportunity.”

The Dolphins (20-11) get their first postseason win since 1974 and their first win over a BCS school since 1994, snapping a 41-game losing streak. It also gives JU its first 20-win season since 1986.

“This is a big win for our program and where we want to go,” Warren said.

NOTES

Jacksonville's win marks only the second time since the NIT began seeding the field that a top seed seed has lost its first game...In 2006, Maryland lost to ninth-seeded Manhattan 87-84...Jacksonville's win represents the first by an A-Sun school in the NIT since College of Charleston defeated Tennessee, 55-49, in 1996...With 26 points, Ben Smith increased his career output to 1,954; he passed Ronnie Murphy for second on the school's scoring list...The win represents the first by an A-Sun school against a Pac-10 school since Mercer beat No. 18 USC on Nov. 10, 2007 and the first by Jacksonville since the Dolphins beat Washington on Dec. 27, 1985, 67-65...Jacksonville travels to Lubbock, Texas to face fifth-seeded Texas Tech.