ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Averett University men's basketball lost a heartbreaker as N.C. Wesleyan College hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win 69-68 in the Cougars' regular season finale on Friday.

Averett (5-6, 5-5 USA South) took a 68-66 lead when senior Montre' Cash drove right and hit a go-ahead shot off the glass with 1.2 seconds remaining. After a Bishops timeout, N.C. Wesleyan (11-5, 8-2 USA South) threw the ball to midcourt to Tim Pettiford, who caught the ball, dribbled once and put up a double-clutch 3-pointer off the glass and in for the win as the horn sounded.

The Cougars erased a 40-30 halftime deficit by using a 10-0 run to jump in front 61-54 with 4:25 to play. Averett held the lead until Damon McDowell hit a tying layup with 20 seconds remaining. That set up Cash's opportunity which gave the Cougars the lead before N.C. Wesleyan's miraculous shot.

Cash led Averett with 21 points to go with six rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Corey Baldwin added 14 points and a team-best nine rebounds, senior Raymond Bullock III had 12 points and six boards and sophomore Bryson McLaughlin finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for the Cougars, who were playing their sixth contest in eight days because of rescheduled games.

Averett will await its matchup in next week's USA South Conference East Division semifinals once seeding is finalized.