ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997 TAG: 9703040013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: Associated Press
Rolando Hourruitiner scored 24 points as Charleston Southern rallied from an 11-point deficit to earn its first NCAA Tournament bid with a 64-54 victory over Liberty on Saturday in the Big South Conference tournament championship game.
Charleston Southern (17-12) had lost to Liberty twice this season, and had lost its last three regular-season games and was playing without its second-leading scorer.
With 14:20 remaining, the Buccaneers were down 40-29, their top scorer, Brett Larrick, had made only one of his 12 shots and most of the spectators at Liberty's arena were rooting against them.
But Charleston Southern, the tournament's No.4 seed, then went on a 20-4 run to take a five-point lead and the Buccaneers went 11-of-14 from the free-throw line in the past two minutes.
The Flames (23-9) led 28-23 at halftime. But they lost their poise and their shooting touch in the final minutes and began fouling when they were down 53-49 with 2:15 left.
Peter Aluma led second-seeded Liberty, which made its only NCAA appearance in 1994, with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and he scored the team's final seven points.
Larrick finished with 12 points, going going 4-for-4 from line in the final 90 seconds.
Charleston Southern shot 28 percent from the field in the first half, but improved to 40 percent in the second half. Liberty finished at 31 percent.
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB