BREVARD, N.C. - Jaylon Debardlabon only scored six points in Brevard's nonconference men's basketball contest with the visiting Pfeiffer Falcons on Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Gymnasium.
He made sure all of them counted.
Debardlabon knocked down a three-point field goal from a step left of the top of the key with 18.8 seconds remaining to give Brevard (3-7) a two-point advantage. On the ensuing possession, Pfeiffer's Silvere Aluko rose up for what appeared to be an easy layup opportunity with about three seconds to play that would have tied the contest.
But Miles Leathers flashed across the lane and met Aluko in the air, rejecting the shot by emphatically sending the ball into the Pfeiffer (2-6) bench with 0.3 seconds to play. The Falcons attempted to heave the ball toward the lane for a tip-in opportunity, but Brayden Masten slapped the ball away as time expired to give Brevard the 69-67 victory in a game that saw six ties and 17 lead changes.
Brevard heads into a two-week break for the holidays as winners of three of its last four games, a feat the team has not accomplished since a four-game winning streak from February 14-21, 2011. Brevard also saw its men's and women's teams emerge victorious on the same day for the first time since a sweep over Tusculum on January 8. Head coach Shannon Reid and the women's basketball team defeated Converse 77-47 earlier in the day.
The Tornados trailed 64-59 after a Mike Smith layup with 3:47 to play, giving the diminutive guard his 22nd and 23rd points on the night to lead all scorers and the Falcons their largest lead of the game. But Pfeiffer would only turn one of its final five possessions into points as the Falcons watched Brevard storm back and take the lead.
Masten converted a pair of free throw attempts with 3:25 on the clock to pull the Tornados to within three points before Pfeiffer was fouled in the open court but missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity. Trevon Shaw narrowed the lead to a single point with two free throws of his own, but Pfeiffer's De'Vonte Jenkins responded with a three-point play to make the Falcon lead 67-63 with 2:08 to play.
Darius Moose, who was announced as D2 Stud of the Week by basketball website BennettRank during the second half Wednesday afternoon, coolly sank a three-point basket with 1:47 to play to draw the Tornados to within a point. Debardlabon came up with a steal deep into the shot clock on Pfeiffer's next possession, but the Tornados were unable to convert the opportunity into points as a transition layup was rejected by Aluko.
Pfeiffer couldn't penetrate Brevard's defense on the ensuing possession, committing a shot clock violation as a wild attempt at a shot in the paint failed to draw rim and setting up Brevard for the late-game heroics by Debarlabon, Leathers, and Masten.
Shaw was Brevard's most impressive performer, scoring six points in addition to collecting three rebounds, dishing out three assists, and blocking a shot. He led or was tied for the team lead in all four categories. Moose was the only other Brevard player in double figures with 12 points. Leathers also had a solid day, contributing six points, six rebounds, a pair of assists, and a steal in addition to his late-game block.
As a team, the Tornados shot 44.9 percent from the field and connected on nine shots from beyond the arc. Brevard committed just 10 turnovers, one off of a season-low, and tied its best mark of the year with six blocked shots.
Pfeiffer was led by Smith's 23 points in 30 minutes off the bench. AJ Clark joined Smith as the only other Falcon in double figures with 20 points. Keith Jumper contributed a game-high 10 rebounds in the losing effort.
Brevard will take a two-week hiatus for the holidays before returning to action on Wednesday, December 31 against Kentucky Wesleyan.
Featured image courtesy of Tommy Moss.
