Parsons’ buzzer-beater drops N.C. State in OT

By Adam Silverstein
January 3, 2010

Down two with 2.6 seconds left on the clock in overtime and N.C. State Wolfpack guard Farnold Degand on the line ready to shoot his second free throw, the Florida Gators‘ hopes of winning a big out-of-conference game on the road looked dashed. Instead, Degand missed his shot, Florida junior forward Chandler Parsons grabbed the rebound, took two dribbles and threw up a 75-foot buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer to give the Gators (11-3) a much-needed 62-61 overtime victory in Raleigh, NC, at the RBC Center.

“It feels like a fantasy,” Parsons said while trying to gain perspective shortly after the game. “I’m waiting for someone to pinch me to wake me up. I’d by lying to you if I said I thought it was going to go in. It was pure luck. But I’m happy I was able to help my team and I was happy we were able to get out of here with the win. North Carolina State is a good team and they are going to have a great season. To be able to pull this out in front of their fans, with that crowd, it’s huge for us.”

One of Florida’s most consistent players this season, Parsons’ remarkable trey was his first made field goal of the game. The entire Gators squad struggled from beyond the arc yet again, shooting a combined 2-of-23 from three before Parsons’ final attempt. UF missed its first 13 three-point attempts and even rimmed out another that would have won the game in regulation.

Florida was within three numerous times at the end of overtime, but N.C. State (10-4) head coach Sidney Lowe directed his team to foul sophomore point guard Erving Walker before he could hoist up a three, limiting his ability to tie the game or take the lead. The Wolfpack missed four free throws in the final 38 seconds of overtime, allowing the Gators to stay in the game even with their poor shooting down the stretch.

Redshirt junior center Vernon Macklin led Florida with 14 points while Walker posted 13 of his own. Junior forward Alex Tyus added 11 points in the contest, his fifth-straight game with double-figure points. Tyus also led the Gators with seven rebounds, while Parsons and freshman guard Kenny Boynton each contributed six boards. For N.C. State, star F Tracy Smith scored 21 points and G Javier Gonzalez added 13 of his own, eight of which were in overtime.

Florida hopes to continue their lucky streak when they open Southeastern Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 9 at noon in Nashville, TN, against the Vanderbilt Commodores. The game will air live on ESPN.

Women’s basketball (8-6) also took home a road win Sunday, toppling the Alabama Crimson Tide 59-53 in both teams’ conference opener. Senior G Lonnika Thompson and sophomore C Azania Stewart led the Gators with 12 points each.

4 Comments

  1. Brittany says:

    INSANE!! That’s all I can say, that was amazing.

  2. cooklyn says:

    We sooooo did not deserve this game. Our shooting was horrendous, and like you said earlier, Dan Werner is the WORST “supposed-to-be-good” player in the country. WHY does he get the minutes he does?! I just don’t get it.

    Also, am I the only one extremely underwhelmed with Kenny Boynton? I mean, I realize he’s only got 14 or so games under his belt, but he doesn’t come inside the 3 line and he’s not shooting up to par with what i’ve heard he’s capable of.

    With Macklin playing the way he has, and Tyus putting up decent enough numbers, why not go inside more?!

  3. Boynton certainly has some work to do – but it is too early in his career to give up on him. Don’t forget, he IS a freshman and not every top recruit is John Wall-like.

    Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.

  4. ReptilesRule says:

    And I stopped watching!! Didn’t want to see another fade down the stretch. Maybe this will inspire them to play better. They don’t have depth so I think that is why they fade in games..

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