Galloway Lifts Saint Joe's Over Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Langston Galloway scored 27 points and hit the go-ahead free throw with 4.1 seconds left as Saint Joseph's beat Charlotte 71-70 on Saturday.

Charlotte's Derrio Green heaved a halfcourt shot, but it missed at the buzzer.

The Hawks (9-21, 4-12 Atlantic 10) secured the 12th and final spot in next week's conference tournament.

Charlotte (10-20, 2-14) would have earned the tiebreaker and would have notched the 12th spot with a win, but the 49ers saw their season end on an eight-game losing streak.

Galloway was 6 of 7 from 3-point range and 8 of 11 from the field for the game. He hit 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions early in the second half as the Hawks led by as many as eight. He also converted a four-point play late in the game.

On the deciding play, Galloway beat fullcourt pressure after the Hawks inbounded with 10.3 seconds, and was fouled on the drive with 4.1 remaining. He hit the first free throw, missed the second.

Saint Joseph's also got 19 points from guard Carl Jones and 10 points from Idris Hilliard.

The Hawks were 11 of 19 from 3-point range.

Chris Braswell led Charlotte with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Javarris Barnett scored 11 points and Jamar Briscoe, who has been out with a back injury, came on midway through the second half to score 10 points.

The Hawks scored the last seven points of the first half to take a 35-33 halftime lead. They pushed the lead to 48-40. Charlotte reeled off seven straight at that point, and it was nip and tuck the rest of the way.

Galloway's four-point play broke a tie and gave Saint Joseph's a 68-64 lead with 1:20 remaining. The 49ers wound up tying it 70-70 on Green's 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds left, and then Galloway was fouled as he beat fullcourt pressure on the ensuing possession.

Saint Joseph's was in the same situation last season. The Hawks beat La Salle on the final day of the regular season to earn the 12th seed in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Hawks then lost to Rhode Island in the first round.

An'Juan Wilderness and Charles Dewhurst were honored before the game as Charlotte's departing seniors.

Charlotte also introduced new football Coach Brad Lambert, who was hired earlier in the week to head up the program that will begin play in 2013.

Saint Joseph's and Charlotte had not met previously this season.

The Hawks' three Atlantic 10 wins had come over Massachusetts, Fordham and Saint Bonaventure. Charlotte's wins had come over Fordham and regular-season champion Xavier.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)