INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Trent Middleton Jr. drove for a layup but was fouled and made a free throw with 4.5 seconds left to lift North Carolina A&T to a 71-70 victory over Hampton on Friday night in the HBCU Classic during NBA All-Star Weekend.
It was the first time the Aggies had taken the lead since scoring their first goal of the game.
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Jalik Gaines-Wyatt’s potential game-tying floater missed at the buzzer.
Middleton’s defense was crucial in the final 57 seconds. Trailing by eight points with nearly six minutes left, he made back-to-back steals to help his team (10-14, 3-10 Coastal Athletic) shoot.
Lewis Walker scored a team-high 18 points, including four consecutive free throws to tie the game at 68. Middleton scored 15 points on 6 of 7 free throws, and Will Felton, who came off the bench, scored 12 points on 5 of 6 shots.
Hampton (12-14, 6-7) led 9-2 in the final 43 seconds, with Gaines Wyatt hitting just two free throws. He and Xzavier Long each scored 17 points for the Pirates. Elijah Kennedy scored 13 points off the bench. They had five players in foul trouble, including Long and Josh Ogundele, who left the game with six.
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The neutral-site game was considered a conference game for the school, which traveled more than 2,500 miles to play at Kia Forum, the former home of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Both schools brought bands, cheerleaders and mascots. The Pack Drumline, who play for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Sky, provided pregame entertainment, while black fraternities and sororities showed off their dance moves. Chloe Bailey sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and the national anthem.
The HBCU Classic began five years ago during Black History Month to highlight historically black colleges and universities as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend.
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