A Dimeco Childress free-throw with 1.2 seconds to play provided the game-winning point as Southern Conference regular-season champion ETSU held off a furious Wofford rally for a 66-65 victory tonight in Spartansburg, S.C.
Wofford standout Ian Chadwick scored 10 points in the final 39 seconds, including three free-throws with two seconds left to even the game at 65-65 after the Terriers trailed by five points with 18 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing inbounds pass, Chadwick collided with Childress at midcourt. Chadwick was whistled for his fifth foul.
Childress then made his first free-throw attempt. He missed the second try, but the Terriers only had time for a desperation toss downcourt.
The Terriers (12-15, 7-9), while seeing their three-game winning streak come to an end, hung tough in the second half despite 29.6 percent shooting.
Wofford made just eight-of-27 field goal attempts in the final 20 minutes.
ETSU (18-9, 13-3) led, 36-35, at the intermission and took its largest lead of the half at 60-65 on a pair of Cliff Decoster free-throws with 49 seconds left.
After making one-of-two free-throws with 39 seconds remaining, Chadwick’s three-pointer with 29 seconds to play pulled the Terriers within one.
Ryan Lawson and Childress each made a pair of free-throws to build the lead back to 64-59 with 18 seconds left.
A Chadwick three-pointer brought Wofford within 64-62 with 12 seconds left to give ETSU a 65-62 lead.
Chadwick was then fouled on another three-point attempt setting the stage for his three threethrows that ended the game.
“I’m proud of our guys for fighting hard,” Wofford Head Coach Richard Johnson said. “Ian Chadwick showed what he was made of tonight.
“Bishop Ravenel and Kenny Hastie were outstanding on the glass (each had nine rebounds).
“Depth became an issue for us. I asked the guys if they needed a break and I’m sure they fibbed so they could stay on the floor. We never rolled over and died.”
“This team has a special place in my heart for what they have overcome.”
Childress led four ETSU players in double figures with 19 points while Decoster scored 12 and Adrian Meeks and D.J. McDuffie added 11 and 10, respectively.
“We executed pretty well down the stretch,” ETSU Head Coach Ed DeChellis said. “It was a great finish. I’m really proud of our guys. They wanted to win this game against one of the hottest teams in the league. We made big plays and hit key shots.”
Chadwick finished with 21 points to lead Wofford while Mike Lenzly and Lee Nixon each scored 15.
Hastie blocked three shots tonight to give him 48 on the year and a new single-season school record.
The Buccaneers ae the top seed from the North.
This is the first season championship for ETSU since the 1991-1992 season.
The Terriers are No. 5-seed in the South and will face Davidson.

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