HAMDEN, Conn. (AP)—Van Crafton made two free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining and scored a game-high 23 points to lead Quinnipiac to a 78-77 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in the quarterfinals of the Northeast Conference tournament Thursday night.
FDU (14-16) had a chance to win the game but Michael Peeples’ driving runner with one second left hit the bottom of the rim.
DeMario Anderson added 17 points and Chris Weyhe scored 15 for the No. 3-seeded Bobcats (14-14), who will play second-seeded Sacred Heart in the semifinals Sunday.
Quinnipiac trailed 58-50 midway through the second half, but Crafton quickly brought the Bobcats back. He scored 12 straight points on three 3s and three free throws to give the Bobcats a four-point Quinnipiac lead.
Sean Baptiste had given the Knights a 77-76 lead with two made free throws with 18.1 seconds left.
Quinnipiac was without senior guard Adam Gonzalez, who has been hospitalized since Tuesday with an undisclosed illness. Gonzalez, a starter, was averaging 15.1 points a game.
Andre Harris had 21 points and Peeples 17 for Fairleigh Dickinson.
