BOSTON - Stijn Dhondt's off-balance three-pointer left his hand with 0.1 seconds remaining, it went through the hoop to lift Boston University to a 63-60 victory over Hartford on Sunday, March 3, in the semifinals of the America East Championship at Matthews Arena.

The Terriers advance to the title game, to be held at B. U.'s Case Gym on Saturday, March 9. The fifth-seeded Maine Black Bears defeated top-seeded Vermont, 61-59, in overtime to earn a trip to the finals.

B. U. (21-9), the second seed in the championship, led, 59-55, with 19 seconds left, but Hartford's junior forward Junior Amos hit a three-pointer from the right baseline with 10 seconds left to cut the lead to one point. Sophomore forward Jason Grochowalski (Shrewsbury, MA) was fouled and made one of two free throws to make it 60-58.

Hartford's senior guard Mantas Storpirstis dribbled down the right side of the court and made a leaning 15-footer to tie the score with just 0.8 seconds left. The Terriers took a 30-second timeout to set up a length-of-the-court pass, a play which head coach Dennis Wolff said the team practices everyday.

"We wanted to throw the ball to the foul line extended on the right side," Wolff said. "There was eight-tenths of second left, and that play was our only option. In those positions, the kids on defense don't want to foul, so the offense can go after the ball."

Dhondt did just that. With sophomore guard Kevin Fitzgerald (Belle Harbor, NY) executing the baseball pass to perfection, Dhondt cut to the right side of the court, caught the pass just outside of the arc, and got an open look at the basket. His shot was off-balance and trailing towards the right sideline, but it hit nothing but net as time expired.

As the Terriers mobbed Dhondt on the court, the officials examined the video replay, which showed the ball leaving Dhondt's hand with only a tenth left.

"I wasn't really thinking anything when it was going through the air to be honest with you," Dhondt said. "I just shot it and once it went in, I was like, oh shoot." Dhondt's basket sent the Terriers to their 12th championship game, and first since 1998.

Hartford (14-18), playing as the third seed, went on 9-2 run to take a 31-22 lead with 2:37 left in the first half. B. U. finished the half on a high note, matching the Hawks' effort with a 9-1 run of its own, and went to the half down 32-31.

B. U. took its first lead since the opening minutes of the game when junior forward Billy Collins (Concord, NH) converted a fastbreak layup to make it 40-39 with 16:09 to go. Freshman guard Chaz Carr (Manchester, CT) gave B. U. a 50-44 advantage with 11:28 on the clock with three straight baskets.

The two teams struggled offensively for the remainder of the game. The Terriers' league-leading defense held Hartford with a field goal for a 6:20 stretch, but the Terriers' offense could not capitalize, scoring just five points during that time.

Carr finished with a game-high 20 points. He was joined in double figures by sophomore forward Ryan Butt, who had 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and Collins, who scored 13 points. Hartford was led by Amos' 18-point, 17-rebound effort. The Hawks outrebounded the Terriers, 39-32.

The Terriers will face Maine in the championship game on Saturday, March 9, at "The Roof". Game time is 11:30 am, and will be televised nationally by ESPN. The two teams have never met in a championship game.