Trojans Get Stung at Buzzer : Midwest Regional: Georgia Tech’s Forrest hits three-pointer as time runs out to eliminate USC, 79-78.

Freshman James Forrest made a lunging three-point shot at the buzzer Saturday as Georgia Tech stunned USC, 79-78, to advance to the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals.

Rodney Chatman’s jumper with three seconds left had given USC a 78-76 lead. Tech inbounded the ball to Jon Barry and he lost his dribble at midcourt, but the ball went off USC with eight-tenths of a second left.

Matt Geiger then threw the ball in to Forrest, who caught the ball at the NBA three-point line to the left of the basket and tossed up his game-winning, 24-foot shot. Forrest was mobbed by his teammates and Tech fans swarmed the court.

Seventh-seeded Tech (23-11) moves on to Kansas City to play Memphis State in the regional semifinals. The Tigers (22-10) defeated Arkansas, 82-80, in Saturday’s first game at the Bradley Center.

Barry made six three-pointers and finished with 20 points. Malcom Mackey had 16 and Forrest 15 for the Yellow Jackets. USC (24-6) was led by Harold Miner with 18 points--14 in the second half--and 14 from Yamen Sanders.

Barry hit a jumper for a 76-76 tie with 53 seconds left. USC then held the ball and let Chatman go one-on-one. He drove to the right side and hit a short jumper with three seconds left to put the Trojans ahead.

Dwayne Hackett came off the bench to hit four three-pointers in the final 3:40 of the first half as USC took a 39-38 lead.