DeVante Jamison fields postgame questions after his game-winning free throws helped FDU defeat Saint Peter’s. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)
By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)
HACKENSACK, N.J. — Following FDU’s 71-70 victory over Saint Peter’s, head coach Jack Castleberry had a wealth of praise for guard DeVante Jamison.
The first-year mentor summed it all up best, though, by exclaiming, “tonight, DeVante saved us.”
With 12 minutes remaining in regulation, FDU led by 15 points. To Castleberry, the clock seemed to crawl at a tantalizingly slow pace as Saint Peter’s gradually chipped away at the lead. In the waning moments, Bashir Mason’s Peacocks got the lead when Michael Houge silenced the Rothman Center crowd on a 3-pointer with eight seconds left. The FDU crowd was momentarily stunned but there was a last chance. The ball was in Jamison’s hands. He drove it to the basket and was fouled with 2.3 seconds to go. Jamison calmly went to the line and buried two free throws as FDU won a thriller.
“I was determined,” Jamison said, regarding FDU’s final possession. “I knew going downhill, not vertical, taking it to the basket, I would score or they would foul me.”
Going to the line with the game on the line, there was no doubt Jamison relishes that type of situation.
“I love it,” he said. “That kind of situation is why I play basketball. I knew those shots would go in.” he said.
Jamison, dubbed “Bullet” for his lightning-fast speed, played his first four years collegiately at St. Thomas Aquinas, where former FDU boss Tobin Anderson coached before making the jump to Division I. He entered the transfer portal following a STAC career that saw him the recipient of numerous honors and awards. Getting from Rockland County to Hackensack proved to be a longer trip than expected.
“I had to graduate,” Jamison said. “I took a few courses over the summer, then was able to enroll at FDU.”
Jamison fit in immediately, reuniting with former STAC teammate Sean Moore. There are fond memories from last March, as he watched Moore and former teammates Demetre Roberts and Grant Singleton make history in the NCAA Tournament.
“I was watching the Purdue game at home and honestly began to tear up,” Jamison confessed. “It was emotional seeing those guys taking down Purdue. Actually, the whole game there was no doubt in my mind they could do it because of their ability and preparation.”
As we spoke, Jamison held his cell phone. He excused himself to take a message. “It’s my mom,” he said. “It was congratulations from her, she’s my biggest fan.”
On this night, he certainly added a fair share of new fans.
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