CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) — Mike Brown hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating jumper in overtime to boost Western Carolina over Samford 56-54 Saturday in each teams’ regular-season finale.
The win ensures Western Carolina (13-18, 9-9 Southern Conference) the sixth seed in the SoCon tournament. Samford (11-20, 9-9) earned the fifth seed with Appalachian State’s win over Chattanooga earlier Saturday.
After neither team scored in the final 4 minutes of regulation, the teams exchanged baskets in overtime, with Raijon Kelly pulling Samford to a 54-54 tie with 1:09 left.
WCU missed a jumper, then Samford turned it over with 16 seconds left. After a Samford defender knocked the ball out of bounds, the Catamounts called timeout with 3 seconds remaining. Brown hit his jumper off the inbound.