Andrew Goudelock scored 24 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left in regulation, that helped College of Charleston to a stunning 82-79 win in overtime over 9th-ranked North Carolina before 5,072 at Carolina First Arena on Monday.
Charleston, which improved to 6-0 at home, is now 8-6 overall. The Cougars knocked off their first nationally ranked team since upsetting No. 3 North Carolina, 66-64, on Dec. 5, 1998 at the Charlotte Coliseum. Charleston is now 5-15 all-time and broke a seven-game losing streak against nationally ranked teams. North Carolina fell to 11-4.
“We played well and Drew (Andrew Goudelock) made a great shot to send the game into overtime,” said Charleston coach Bobby Cremins. “The first half was sensational, but in the second it looked like it would be a great effort by College of Charleston and another North Carolina win.
“The kids hung in there and were able to stay with Carolina. This was a great win for the College of Charleston, our city and the Southern Conference.”
Goudelock’s 3-pointer from the right wing capped a 12-1 run by Charleston over the final 3:51 that sent the game into overtime tied at 73-all. Goudelock scored the final eight points for the Cougars.
“I almost called timeout just before that final shot in regulation,” added Cremins. Drew looked like he was under control so I let him take it and luckily for us it went in.”
A pair of free throws by Deon Thompson capped a 17-6 run by North Carolina that gave the Tar Heels a 72-61 lead with 4:02 left.
In overtime, Donavan Monroe gave Charleston the lead for good at 76-73 with a 3-pointer with 4:02 remaining. After North Carolina’s Leslie McDonald cut the margin to 76-74 by hitting 1-of-2 free throws with 2:55 left, the Cougars got a dunk from Jeremy Simmons and layup from Willis Hall to grab an 80-74 lead with 1:28 left.
McDonald answered with a jumper and Larry Drew II hit a 3-pointer after a Cougars’ turnover with 1:01 left to cut Charleston’s lead to 80-79. Monroe hit both ends of a 1-and-1 free throw chance to extend the Cougars’ advantage to 82-79 with 16 seconds left.
After North Carolina missed a shot and Charleston failed on a free throw attempt with 1.1 seconds left, Monroe stole North Carolina’s inbounds pass to seal the win.
Charleston got 11 points from Goudelock and 10 from Monroe in the first half and took a 37-36 lead at intermission.
Casaan Breeden and Monroe scored 15 points each for the Cougars, while Simmons and Tony White, Jr. added 13 points each, respectively. White pulled down a career-best eight rebounds.
North Carolina was led by Ed Davis who scored 19 points and pulled down a game-high 16 boards. Thompson added 17 points, while McDonald had 11 points off the bench.
Both teams had 10 blocked shots. Breeden had a career-high five blocks, while Simmons added four. UNC got a team-high five blocks from Davis.
The College of Charleston, 3-0 in Southern Conference play, returns to league action on Saturday when they play at The Citadel at 7:05.
