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6/2/2009 - MEN'S BASKETBALL
Hedgepeth enjoyed solid first year at Belmont - Times-Journal
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Mick Hedgepeth took full advantage of the chance to be a hero for the Belmont University men's basketball team last winter.
Facing Mercer in an Atlantic Sun Tournament quarterfinal, Hedgepeth scored the winning points on a 7-foot bank shot with two-tenths of a second remaining, lifting the Bruins to a 65-64 victory.
Belmont didn't go on to win the tournament, instead falling to East Tennessee State in a semifinal, but the Mercer victory was definitely a highlight of Hedgepeth's freshman season.
"I've had only two other chances for a game-winning shot," he said. "One was in the fourth grade against Geraldine and I made it, and the other one was against Madison Academy when I was I senior.
"I didn't do anything special [against Mercer]. I was at the right place at the right time."
Hedgepeth, a former Crossville High School standout, enjoyed a productive first year with the Bruins. He played in 33 games, averaging 10.3 minutes, 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds.
The Bruins finished 20-13 and reached the CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament.
"It started out kind of slow but it picked up a lot toward the end," Hedgepeth said of his first year at the collegiate level. "It took me a little longer to adjust coming from a smaller school as opposed to being from a [Class] 5A or 6A and playing more upper-level competition. Now I know exactly where I need to be. Mainly, it was just adjusting to the strength and speed of the game."
Hedgepeth enjoyed one of his best games at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. The Bruins trailed by 18 points with 3:47 left but rallied for an 87-84 victory.
Hedgepeth's contributions included his first career double-double. He closed with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
"It was really special. It was an unreal moment for out team," Hedgepeth said. "Our seniors started hitting some huge shots. We finally started hitting our 3s and they were missing over half their free throws. They had some big turnovers when we turned the pressure up on them coming down the stretch. We kept on fighting."
