Over the next 10 weeks, USAJaguars.com will reflect on the 2009-10 men’s basketball season and relive the top 10 moments that include upset victories, last-second shots and milestone wins.
Check back each week to see which moment earned the number one spot.
The rankings were voted on by South Alabama’s athletic media relations staff and coaching staff.
#10: JAGUARS OVERCOME LOSS OF SHERRER, OUTLAST FIU IN OVERTIME
After struggling to post just two victories in their last 10 games, including four home losses, the Jaguars were in desperate need of a win when Florida International came to town. The Golden Panthers entered the Mitchell Center in last place in the Sun Belt Conference East Division and losers of five of their past six games.
What looked like an easy win was anything but.
Making things even more difficult was the loss of senior guard Bryan Sherrer who suffered a knee injury early in the contest, leaving the Jags without their leader on the court.
“Bryan was vital to our team’s success last season,” said head coach Ronnie Arrow. “He could play both spots and was in at the end of every game. The injury took away experience and our most solid player who runs the team and makes his free throws. It showed in that game when we were up and they came back.”
Coming in to the contest Sherrer was third on the team in scoring (10.6 ppg) and second in minutes played (31.9) and 3-pointers (25). He finished the season ranked ninth in the nation in free throw percentage (90.1).
South Alabama held the lead throughout the first half, up by as many as 14 points, but FIU chipped away at the Jaguars’ lead after the halftime break, taking a two-point advantage with 2:33 left in the contest.
After the teams traded two free throws each, Martino Brock sent the game into overtime with a driving lay-up 22 seconds from the end of regulation.
FIU took a two-point advantage in the first minute of extra time but a 6-0 Jaguar run, capped off with a slam from DeAndré Hersey, put the game out of reach.
“I think the guys finally decided that Sherrer wasn’t going to be with us and they had to play better and start taking up the slack for him,” said Arrow.
Four USA players hit double digits, let by Brock’s 18. The 6-5 freshman added 12 rebounds, for his fourth double-double of the season, four steals and two blocks.
“Tim [Williams] got in foul trouble and Coach Arrow put me at the ‘3’ (position) and the ‘2’ (position), with me and Gary Redus at the top,” said Brock. “We just went from there. I was trying to be an impact player, get the crowd involved and bring some energy.”
The win was the start of a stretch that saw the Jaguars go 4-2 and close out the season with three straight home victories. Sherrer missed the next four games, but returned in March for the Sun Belt Tournament.
