Watch Archived Video of This Game! | Final Stats | Quotes
Dec. 29, 2005
AUBURN, Ala. - Korvotney Barber tipped in a basket with 1.2 seconds remaining to lift Auburn to a dramatic 64-62 come-from-behind victory over Winthrop on Thursday.
After a 30-second timeout by Auburn (6-3) with 20 seconds remaining, Frank Tolbert drove to the rim and missed a shot off the glass, but Josh Dollard kept the ball alive with a tip attempt that rattled off the iron before Barber out-leaped the Winthrop (6-3) defenders to tip the ball in and lift the Tigers to victory.
"It was a big win for us," head coach Jeff Lebo said. "I told people when I scheduled this game that they would be one of the best teams we played in our place and they were. (Gregg) Marshall does a great job with them, and they're used to winning. We battled to the end. We have a young group of guys, and they didn't fold or panic."
Auburn trailed by as many as 13 with 18:25 to go in the game and rallied behind Rasheem Barrett's career-high 19 points, which included a span in the second half where he scored 14 straight for the Tigers.
With Winthrop leading 58-57, Frank Tolbert knocked down a three from the right wing to give the Tigers their first lead, 60-58, since the 17:37 mark of the first half. The Eagles answered as Torrell Martin scored two of his team high 19 points at the 2:20 mark to even the score at 60.
With the score tied at 60, Quantez Robertson exploited a seam in the Eagles' defense and made a layup to push the Tigers to a 62-60 advantage. Winthrop's James Shuler responded with a basket of his own with 38 seconds remaining, which set the stage for Tolbert's drive and Barber's tip.
Barber finished with seven points to go along with four rebounds. Auburn shot 50 percent (14-28) from the field in the second half. The Tigers outscored Winthrop's bench 28-10, led by Barrett's 19.
Leading 31-26 at the break, Winthrop opened the second half with back-to-back threes and a pair of free throws to take a 39-26 lead with 18:27 to play.
The Tigers' five-point halftime deficit was the first time they had trailed at the break this season at home. The Eagles' Chris Gaynor finished the half with nine points on 3-of-3 three-pointers.
After Winthrop went on a 14-4 run to take an 18-9 lead - the Eagles largest of the half - Daniel Hayles buried a three-pointer at the 9:48 mark that spurred a 10-0 run by the Tigers to regain the lead at 19-18.
The game was knotted at 26 before the Eagles scored the final five points of the half.
Winthrop was led by Martin's 19 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Gaynor scored a season-high 17 points on 5-of-7 threes.
Auburn's next game is Saturday when Jacksonville State visits Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum at 1 p.m.