WINGATE, N.C. - The Tornados have done the unthinkable.

Needing two wins and an Anderson loss to make the SAC Tournament for the first time in four years, Brevard (12-16, 10-12 SAC) eked out a triple-overtime win on Thursday night, then rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit less than 48 hours later against a Wingate (15-13, 12-10 SAC) team with an extra day of rest.

When the final buzzer sounded in Brevard's improbable 79-77 victory, the Tornados learned of Anderson's 80-68 loss to Queens in South Carolina that wrapped up approximately 10 minutes earlier. Anderson's loss left the Trojans and Tornados tied for eighth in the conference standings, but Brevard advances to the SAC Tournament as the No. 8 seed.

The teams split the season series and neither had an advantage in wins against any of the top four teams in the final conference standings. But Brevard advances by virtue of its better record against Wingate, the tournament's fifth seed, after the Tornados swept the season series by a total of five points.

The game, which Brevard spent just 2:29 leading, was in doubt until the final moments. Brevard scored the first bucket of the game and held the lead until a Zeriq Lolar triple nearly two minutes into the game. Brevard did not regain the lead until Trevon Shaw drained a three-pointer on a pass from Darius Moose that made the Tornados' advantage 75-74 with 1:07 to play. It was the last of seven consecutive made field goals as the Tornados did not miss from the field over the game's final 5:45.

The teams then largely traded free throw opportunities in the final minute. Brevard made four of its final six attempts, while Wingate was 3-for-7 down the stretch. A big moment came with Brevard leading 77-75 and the clock ticking below 20 seconds. Ryan Daye was fouled shooting a three-point attempt but made only one attempt from the foul line.

Phil Wallace pushed the advantage back to three points moments later before Daye closed the gap to two with another free throw. His second attempt was errant, but Shaw was tied up after corralling the rebound and the possession arrow gave the ball back to Wingate with under six seconds remaining. The inbounds pass from along the baseline was tipped and initially ruled as an over-and-back violation. But upon discussion, the call was reversed to an inadvertent whistle and the Bulldogs had one final chance with 2.3 seconds left. Lolar missed a potential game-winning triple, giving Brevard the win and the postseason bid.

Brevard's comeback was extremely improbable. Wingate opened up its largest lead at 52-37 on a Xavier Griffin three-point basket with 14:43. But the Tornados responded with Jaylon Debardlabon jumper that sparked a 13-2 run over the next 4:30, bringing the Tornados within five points at 54-49.

Wingate absorbed the blow and stretched its lead back to double digits, leading 69-56 when Wallace missed a shot in the paint at the 5:53 mark of the second half. The Tornados would not miss again, ending the game on a 23-8 run and forcing Wingate to shoot 12.5 percent (1-for-8) over the final six minutes.

Darius Moose led the Tornados with a 26-point effort and now has 1,498 points in his Brevard career. He also drained four shots from long distance to become the Tornados' NCAA-era single-season three-point leader with 71. Shaw chipped in 20 points, 14 of which came in the final 5:45, and tied Moose for the team lead with six rebounds.

Ryan Daye, playing in the final home game of his Wingate career, led all scorers with 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Lolar and Xavier Griffin joined Daye in double figures with 15 and 11, respectively. Keith Griffin rejected four shots on the afternoon.

With today's win, Brevard swept the season series with Wingate for the first time since moving to the NCAA ranks. The Tornados also secured their tenth conference victory, a feat only accomplished once prior to this season.

Brevard now must travel to Harrogate, Tennessee to face top-seeded Lincoln Memorial, the nation's third-ranked team. The Railsplitters have lost just and swept the season series with Brevard but are coming off a three-point win at Catawba. Brevard led at the half of the team's last meeting on Monday night, Brevard's second televised appearance this season, before eventually falling 87-75.

Featured image courtesy of Tommy Moss.