Murithi’s Buzzer-Beater Lifts SMC to First Win of the Season

Second-year Spartanburg Methodist College head men's basketball coach Blake Jackson faced a crucial decision in his final timeout. Down 60–61 with the ball underneath their own basket, he had options: freshman CJ Terrell, who had scored 16 points (10 of them in the second half); senior Tavarez Lacey, who tallied all nine of his points after halftime; or redshirt freshman Musa Murithi.

Jackson called on Murithi, who had led the team with 12 points in the first half but had added just three more by the time of the timeout. The redshirt freshman from Simpsonville took the handoff pass from Lacey at the top of the key, shook off his Bryan defender, and released a shot with less than one second remaining. With unwavering belief from his coaches, teammates, and fans, the ball dropped through the net as the buzzer sounded, giving the visiting Pioneers a dramatic 62–61 win. The last-second shot sent the bench pouring onto the floor to celebrate SMC's first victory of the season.

Murithi finished with 17 points to lead three Pioneers in double figures. Terrell added 16, while Kennedy Aiken-Shannon scored 11, including eight in the first half.

Bryan was led by Ty Gibbs with 19 points, while Kole Torres joined him in double figures with 13.

Murithi opened the scoring with a 3-pointer less than a minute into the contest, and the Pioneers controlled much of the first half, taking a 28–19 lead into the break. A three-point play by Terrell pushed the lead to 41–27 with 14:15 remaining.

Gibbs sparked the Tigers' comeback, hitting his third 3-pointer of the second half to give Bryan a 47–45 lead with 7:48 left, prompting an SMC timeout. Bryan eventually stretched its lead to seven, but the Pioneers refused to fold.

A steal and thunderous dunk by Lacey with seven seconds left cut the deficit to one. SMC then forced a turnover, setting the stage for Murithi's game-winning heroics.

Next, SMC will host Brewton-Parker College on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Bridges Arena.