Hickory , N.C. --Wingate University senior guard and All-American candidate Lorinza Harrington ( Wagram , N.C. ) hit the go-ahead basket with 3.3 seconds remaining as the No. 23 Bulldogs rallied for a 76-75 win over Presbyterian College in the semifinals of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball tournament at the Multipurpose Complex on the campus of Catawba Valley Community College . 

Wingate (26-5 overall) advances to Saturday's 2 p.m. championship game, where the number two seed Bulldogs will face #18 Carson-Newman College, an 88-51 winner over Tusculum College in Friday's first semifinal. Carson-Newman is the top seed in this year's Food Lion SAC event. Six-seed Presbyterian completes its season 12-16 overall.

Harrington hit three crucial shots in the final two minutes, including two in the final 10.3 seconds. The SAC player of the year, Harrington made a jumper with 1:48 to play to give Wingate a 70-69 edge and its first lead since early in the second half.

Harrington made a steal and dunk with 10.3 seconds left to give Wingate a 74-73 advantage. Wingate fouled PC junior guard Chuck Rayford in the backcourt with 7.6 seconds left. Rayford hit both free throws to make it 75-74 Blue Hose, setting the stage for Harrington's late-game heroics.

Harrington was fouled on his final basket, but he missed the free throw. Presbyterian rebounded and Rayford took a half court shot at the buzzer that hit the rim and bounced away.

Presbyterian made a 22-0 run spanning both halves to take a 46-42 lead on an inside hoop by junior center Preston Davis with 16:59 to play in the contest. On the next trip down the floor, Wingate junior guard Djuan Hankins (Roanoke, Va.) hit a three-pointer at the 16:39 mark, ending a 6:11 Wingate drought without a score.

Hankins hit a transition dunk (on an assist from senior guard Anthony Daise) to give Wingate a 42-24 lead with 2:50 to go in the first half. Wingate would not score again until Hankins' aforementioned three-pointer. Wingate shot 64.3 percent in the first half (18-of-28), but only 31.3 percent (10-of-32) in the second half.

Presbyterian was more consistent, hitting 53.5 percent (23-of-43) for the game. The Blue Hose hit 60 percent (12-of-20) in the second half.

Hankins led Wingate with 25 points and seven rebounds. Harrington added 16 points, while sophomore guard Keenan Dunn (Charlotte, N.C.) chipped in 13 markers.

Rayford led all scorers with 28 points, including 18 in the second half. Junior forward Rod Isom added 12 points for the Blue Hose, while sophomore guard Matt Scully added 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

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