Date Posted: 3/7/2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont went on a 16-2 run to close out a 69-65, come-from-behind victory over ETSU in the 2008 General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Conference Semifinal on Friday night. Two-time A-Sun Tournament MVP Justin Hare made only one field goal on the night, but hit six clutch free throws in the final 1:23 to help the Bruins advance to their third-straight A-Sun Championship Final.

In a re-match of last year's A-Sun Championship Final, ETSU held the highest scoring team in the conference 11.5 points below their average, which was their lowest point total against a conference foe this season. The Bruins also struggled from behind the three-point line, going 9-of-39 for the game and 1-of-15 in the second half. The 39 three-point attempts was the most ever in an A-Sun Tournament game, surpassing the 37 put up by Troy against FAU in 2004.

Matthew Dotson kept the Bruins in the game in the first half with his three-point shooting, going 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. He ended the game with a team-high 17 points, all of them coming in the first half. Shane Dansby scored 14 points and pulled down eight boards, while Hare went 1-16 from the field and scored 10 points. Henry Harris provided the spark for the Bruin run, coming up with two key steals down the stretch, one of which resulted in a three-point play by Harris that made the score 63-62 in favor of ETSU. Harris ended with nine points, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the field.

Courtney Pigram led the Bucs in scoring with a game-high 20 points in the losing effort. Kenyona Swader posted a double-double for ETSU, scoring 17 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Swader was involved in one of the key points in the game when, with 17 seconds remaining and ETSU clinging to a 65-64 lead, Swader was foulded by Andy Wicke. Following the foul, Swader was charged with a technical foul, which resulted in a pair of made free throws from Hare. Trailing by one, Swader missed the front end of a one-and-one, which effectively ended the Bucs' title hopes.

The No. 1 seed Belmont will play for their third straight A-Sun Tournament title on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. CT. They will face the No. 2 seed Jacksonville, setting up the fifth straight one versus two match-up in an A-Sun Championship Final. The last four have been won by the No. 2 seed.

Related Links:
 • A-Sun Men's Championship
 • Game Highlights