Najdawi, Frierson rally The Citadel past Wofford 80-78

Feb 2, 2019, 01:46 am

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Zane Najdawi scored 16 points, including two big free throws with 7.6 seconds on the clock and blocked four shots, Matt Frierson scored 15 with a key late steal and The Citadel came from 10 points back to stun Wofford 80-78 and kick off the second half of the Southern Conference season Thursday night.

Wofford (16-7, 7-3) came in tied for second in the Southern Conference and built a 64-54 lead with 11:35 remaining when Fletcher Magee scored three straight baskets, including back-to-back 3-pointers. Magee finished with 21 points but didn't score again until he was fouled and sent to the line with one second left in the game and Wofford down by three.

Magee made the first, intentionally missed the second, but The Citadel's Hayden Brown wrapped up the rebound and the Bulldogs (8-14, 3-7) began leaping around the court after the final horn sounded.

The Citadel was trailing by two with four minutes left when Frierson stole the ball after a Wofford inbounds, his shot didn't drop, but he was fouled, made both and tied the game 72-72. Wofford never saw the lead again.

Frankie Johnson, who scored four of his six points in the final two minutes, sidestepped a defender and drove for the go-ahead score, 74-72. Najdawi's free throws made it an 80-77 game.