Buzzer beater sinks Mt. Pleasant boys

BURLINGTON — The only unbeaten team left in Southeast Conference play had its perfect run come to an end in the most heartbreaking of fashions on Tuesday night.

Burlington’s Christos Kantzavelos launched a 3-pointer from the corner after an inbounds pass from just past half-court found him with just enough space to sink the shot at the horn and deliver the Panthers a 56-54 loss.

Mt. Pleasant had just taken the lead when Payton Hagans made both ends of a 1-and-1 to take the game from a 53-52 deficit to a 54-52 lead. Burlington called timeout with just 2.7 seconds left and the ball behind the half-court line.

Mt. Pleasant had an early double-digit lead but Burlington closed the first quarter down just four, at 18-14. The Panthers’ lead was down to 30-28 at halftime, and Burlington took a 47-45 advantage into the fourth.

Hagans finished the game with 19 to lead the Panthers. Mt. Pleasant held Burlington’s leading scorer, Merquiche Lewis Jr., to 17.

The loss pushed Mt. Pleasant back to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. They are tied at the top with Burlington and Washington, with Fairfield being just one game back, at 2-2.

Mt. Pleasant will be back in action on Jan. 2, when they host New London.