Teams Combine to Shoot 106 Free Throws
The record for combined free throws in a collegiate game is 130, set way back in 1953 in a game between Northern Arizona and Arizona.
The Angelina College Roadrunners and the Kilgore College Rangers on Wednesday appeared on the verge of endangering that record.
The teams combined for 106 free throws on 73 personal fouls (and one technical foul) in AC’s 104-96 win in the conference opener for both teams at Shands Gymnasium.
The Rangers converted 44 of 57 attempts from the free-throw line, while the Roadrunners went 36-of-49. AC’s Corinthian Ramsey went 9-of-9 to finish with a game-high 26 points, with Robert Lewis adding 21 points after going 9-of-11 from the stripe. Gary Blackston added 19 points and Jason Towery 10 in the ‘Runner win. Towery’s two free throws with 31 seconds to play gave AC a little breathing room after the Rangers wiped out a 20-point lead to make things close near the end.
Kilgore’s Tre Evans led the Rangers with 20 points; Chad Bowie finished with 18 and Cheikh Diallo 16 in the loss.
There were 37 fouls called in the first half; both teams were in the bonus with 15 minutes still to play. AC used a 17-2 run to build a 20-point lead in the second half – the ‘Runners had committed just two turnovers at that point – before the Rangers regrouped and began chipping away. Bowie’s free throw with 32 seconds to play trimmed the AC lead to six points, but Towery hustled his way to a rebound, drawing the foul and hitting the free throws to ice the game.
With the win, the Roadrunners (9-2, 1-0) extended their winning streak to five games. AC will play next at Tyler College on Saturday. The Lady Roadrunners, who dropped a 97-85 decision Wednesday at Panola College, will tip off against the Lady Apaches at 2 p.m., with the Roadrunners and Apaches following at 4 p.m.