Trailing by two with less than 10 seconds to play Saturday afternoon, Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) freshman guard Ricardo Sullivan scored on a driving layup with five seconds left and made the free throw after being fouled to give the SVCC men’s basketball team an 81-80 lead, a lead it would never relinquish

After the Panthers forced a five-second call on defense, Sullivan was fouled on the inbounds pass and hit both free throws with 3.5 seconds left to increase the lead.

Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC) pushed the ball up court for a final shot, but SVCC sophomore wing Michael Jackson blocked a 3-point shot attempt and the Panthers hung on for a thrilling 83-80 win in Lawrenceville on Saturday afternoon.

The victory improved the Panthers to 2-2 on the season.

“This is the Duke-North Carolina rivalry game in the Virginia Community College System,” SVCC Head Coach Dennis Smith said. “It is always a war, and I am proud of the way our team responded down the stretch against a good TNCC squad.”

Jackson scored on a driving runner late in the first stanza and sophomore guard K.J. Reagans hit a bucket with three seconds left to give the Panthers a 45-34 lead at halftime.

Jackson and Reagans led SVCC with 20 points apiece, while Sullivan scored 17 and freshman forward Aaron Logan added 11 in the victory.

Vincent Collins led TNCC with 29 points, while Darius Hester tallied 21 and Montay Hood scored 13.

The Panthers visit Bryant & Stratton MIT on Dec. 1 at 1 p.m.