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The man behind the buzzer beater: Greg Langston

Anthony Grasso, Special to the Southern News-
The score is tied at 66 as freshman sensation Greg Langston brings the ball up the floor. The crowd is yearning for a game-winning shot, with hopes that Langston has a flare for the dramatic.  The ball is at Greg’s fingertips as two opponents rush to defend Langston’s shot.
It’s too late. The night of January 25, 2011 belongs to Greg Langston. As the clock winds down and the ball drops smoothly through the net, Langston is mobbed by the Southern Connecticut basketball team, who has just witnessed his second buzzer beater this season.
“It was a great feeling, anytime I can get a chance to help my team win is an amazing feeling for me,” said Langston.“For this season, no one really expected us to do much.  Our team is a lot better than the record we have.  The team is playing well and the best basketball is ahead of us,” he said. The Owls are currently 10-10 with a recent loss to Le Moyne College, according to Southern’s Athletic website.
“I’ve had a couple buzzer beaters before when I played AAU basketball, but they never get old,” said Langston.
Langston is in his first year at Southern, hailing from high school basketball power house St. Joseph’s in Stratford.  Greg is currently undecided on a major, but is extremely focused on the future.
“I’m definitely going to stay in school and get a degree.  If I can play pro ball, I will.  If I can’t play professionally, I hope to stay around basketball as long as possible. I have two younger brothers that I want to coach when they get older,” said Langston.
“I’m undecided on a major but I am thinking about doing sports management,” Langston said.
Teammate and close friend, Trevon Hamlet, is another stunning player for the Owls.
“Greg is a great teammate, the best freshman in the Northeast-10 conference in my opinion.  When he made that first buzzer beater we were ecstatic.  Then he hit a second buzzer beater and I couldn’t believe he did it again,” said Hamlet.
Coach Michael Donnelly was named head coach on May 7, 2010, according Southern’s athletic website.
“Greg is a great kid, with a tremendous personality.  He is only a freshman and he’s one of the more popular players on the team,” said Donnelly.
Donnelly couldn’t stop emphasizing the great attitude Langston brings to the team.
“Greg never seems to have a bad day, he’s always smiling.  His ability to score in different ways brings a great threat to our offense,” Coach Donnelly said.
“He reminds me of Paul Pierce.  Greg’s very physical and scrappy; he finds a way to get the job done,” said Donnelly.
Donnelly and Langston share a connection that runs deeper than Southern basketball: Playing for the same coach at St. Joseph’s High school.
“Yeah I played for the same coach as Greg when I attended St. Joseph’s high school. That’s why Greg’s my guy, we have that connection,” Donnelly said.
“It really all depends on Greg; it all depends on what he puts into it, what he does in the off-season.  If he can put the hard work in, the sky is the limit for Greg. Good ones become great when no one has to push them,” said Donnelly.

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