On a day when he was named Patriot League Player of the Week, Harris made Navy’s lone field goal in the final 10 minutes, 30 seconds a special one.

 

With the score tied with 2.4 seconds left and Navy taking the ball out from under it’s own basket, Harris ran off a screen set by 6-11 center Mark Veazey, received an inbound pass from T.J. Topercer, took one dribble and launched his shot. It hit the backboard and caromed into the hoop as the horn sounded.

“We go through situations like that in practice,” said Harris. “It’s something we knew how to do. T.J. Topercer came in, after not playing at all. His groin still hurt. And just threw a straight up [pass], on a rope, right in my hands. I threw it up, not knowing. I had no clue at all. It was luck.”

Harris and Navy coach Billy Lange remembered losing a triple-overtime game two years ago in the Patriot League Tournament when Bucknell’s John Griffin hit a 40-footer at the buzzer in Annapolis.

“It’s great to be on that end of a game like that, with a shot like that,” said Lange. “College basketball is a crazy game. You’re gonna lose some like that. Occasionally, you’re gonna win some like that.”

The shot capped an outstanding individual effort by Harris, who hit 8 of 15 shots from the floor and 5 of 10 from 3-point range on his way to 31 points, 11 above his average entering the game.

With Harris and junior center Mark Veazey (18 points) leading an efficient offense, Navy rolled to an early lead, which swelled to 17 early in the second half when Harris hit a deep 3-pointer.

The Mids (3-4) still had a comfortable margin, leading 54-41, when Veazey connected with a hook shot with 10:30 to go. But it would be Navy’s final field goal before Harris ended the drought in dramatic fashion.

Quinnipiac rallied behind senior guard James Feldeine (24 points, 6 rebounds) and junior forward Justin Rutty (15 points, 9 rebounds). The duo combined for 28 points in the second half and had all but one of the points as the Bobcats scored on their final seven possessions. But Harris had the ultimate answer.

“We were trying to stay between our man and the basket. But our kid didn’t do a good job,” said Quinnipiac coach Tom Moore. “He should have been shooting the ball with someone in front of him.”

In addition to its field goal drought in the final 10 minutes, there were other reasons for Navy to lose as it was out-rebounded, 41-25. But unheralded players such as junior point guard O.J. Avworo (8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 0 turnovers) fought hard.

“I thought O.J. Avworo was phenomenal,” said Lange. “We call him Hakeem Olajouwan, because he’s from Nigeria.”

And then there was Harris, whose shot, he admitted, was lucky. But, according to Lange, it was a just reward for a team that hung in against an onrushing, talented opponent, one of three favorites in the North East Conference.

“Our overall team play was tremendous. Our bench didn’t score. But I think our bench played great,” said Lange. “Sometimes you deserve to make a shot like Chris made when your team does all the right things.”

Notes » Navy will host Pennsylvania (0-4) on Friday night.

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