Box Score THOMASVILLE, GA.- A layup by Alan Love with 12 seconds to go helped Thomas come away with a 79-76 win over Southeastern on Tuesday night.
It looked as if the Fire (13-10, 7-7 TSC) might be able to pick up a win in a building that has seen three Top 25 teams fall to the NightHawks (17-7, 8-6 TSC) this season when Tana Pritchard split a pair of free throws with 25 seconds to go to give SEU a 76-75 lead, but Love scored coming out of a timeout.
Southeastern had another chance with five seconds left, but a steal by Love, and an ensuing basket cemented the win.
In the second half, the Fire led by as many as five, when Tim Mitchell connected on a pair of free throws with 5:28 to play. Thomas responded with a 7-0 run to take a 73-72 advantage with 1:49 to go. On the next possession, Matt Crowe connected on a 3-pointer to give the Fire a two-point lead with 90 seconds left. The NightHawks knotted the game on the next possession on a basket in the lane by Marcus Humose.
At halftime, the Fire trailed 46-39, after the hosts hit on 56% of their first half shots (18-of-32), and an eye-popping 7-of-9 from bonus range. Thomas had an eight-point advantage with 2:26 left in the first on a 3-pointer by Rodney Sturkie.
The lead grew to nine when Sturkie opened the half with a basket in the paint to give Thomas a 48-39 lead. However, the Fire rallied with an 8-0 run to make it a one-point game with 17:28 to go on a fast break layup by Pritchard.
A 3-ball by Crowe with 15:05 left tied the game at 52; Crowe recorded a steal with 13:19 left that led to a three-point play by Andre' Winston at the other end to put the Fire up 55-52.
Winston led the Fire with 19 points, and also had eight rebounds, and four steals. Mitchell added 14 points, five rebounds, and a block. Dana Thomas recorded a double-double effort of 10 points and game-best 12 rebounds to go along with three assists and four steals.
Thomas finished the night 54% from the field, 53% from 3-point range, and 50% from the free throw line. The Fire were 41% from the field 33% (6-of-18) from beyond the arc, and 63% at the line.
The Fire return to action on Thursday when they travel to second-ranked Embry-Riddle for a 7:30 start.
