Hampton Free Throw Lifts Wolfpack to 63-62 Win

YOUNGWOOD, Pa. - Jakir Hampton hit a free throw with 2.9 seconds to play to propel the Westmoreland County Community College men's basketball team to a 63-62 win over visiting Penn Highlands Wednesday night.

The free throw gave the win to the Wolfpack after the Black Bears rallied from an 11-point second half deficit. Westmoreland led 51-40 midway through the second half before Penn Highlands chipped away. Tahiyr Vines scored for the Wolfpack with 5:20 left but they went scoreless over the next four minutes and the Black Bears tied the game at 60-60 with 2:19 left.

Westmoreland finally broke the scoreless stretch on another basket by Vines with 1:31 on the clock. Penn Highlands managed the tying hoop with 13 seconds to play and Westmoreland had the chance for the final shot. Off the inbounds, a deflection led to a loose ball and the Black Bears grabbed it and called timeout. But they were out of timeouts, meaning a technical foul was assessed. Hampton stepped to the line and hit 1-of-2 to break the tie. Penn Highlands had possession with 2.9 seconds left, but the inbounds pass was stolen by Hampton and the Wolfpack escaped with the narrowest of victories.

It was a balanced attack for Westmoreland, with Hampton leading the scoring with 15 points and he added seven rebounds. Pouring in 14 points was Joel LoNigro, while Brandon Baird had 12 points and nine boards and Mohamed Conde totaled 10 points, four boards and four steals. Leading the efforts on the glass was Vines, who grabbed 16 boards and added six points.

The Wolfpack are back on the court Friday when they host Garrett College's freshmen team in a 6 pm tip-off.