By Ryan Bisesi
rbisesi@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY ó In his first month of coaching at Salisbury, Jason Causby and the Hornets have had five games now go down to the final possession.
Wednesday night featured another nail-biter with the Hornets coming up short in a 43-41 loss to Newton-Conover at home.
Kevin Holloway scored an easy two with 11 seconds to play and Newton-Conover held off Salisbury (4-4) on its last possession. The Hornets let too many points slip away as they were 12 of 25 from the foul line and shot 5 of 31 from the floor in the second half.
ěWe do good things and kind of rest on it for a little bit,î Causby said. ěTheyíve got to do a better job of playing a complete game.î
Tion McCain tied the score at 41 on a free throw with 29 seconds to play. The second attempt was no good with the Red Devils grabbing the rebound and calling timeout to set up a play that called for penetration from the point guard.
ěThomas Corpening made a great read and attacked,î NC coach Jonathan Tharpe said. ěKevin slid over and made the play.î
Buster Hillie brought the ball up during the final possession and was double-teamed, causing an erratic shot at the horn that was well off.
ěWe brought it up half-speed and picked the ball up,î Causby said. ěThat was the ball game.î
Tony Nunn was called for his fourth foul with 7:37 to play, but managed 15 points under the watchful eye of N.C. State assistant Bobby Lutz.
The Red Devils trailed 20-18 at halftime and took the lead for keeps with three straight baskets from Kevin Cline to start the second half. NC held a 33-27 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Holloway led NC (6-3) with 14 points.
ěWeíre too talented to continue to struggle,î Causby said. ěWhen we get to conference play, I think weíll be right where we need to be.î
NEWTON-CONOVER (43) ó Holloway 14, Ramseur 9, Cline 6, Mitchell 6, Corpening 4, Shuford 2, McCombs 2, Avis.
SALISBURY (41) ó Nunn 15, Adams 8, McCain 6, Hillie 4, Duncan 4, T. Petty 2, Woods 2, Tracey, Robertson, Griffin, J. Petty.
N-Conover 6 12 15 10 ó 43
Salisbury 10 10 7 14 ó 41