Terrence Woods triumphs over field in NABC Three-Point Shootout
FAMU senior knocks down 23 goals in final, edging Oregon's Luke Jackson

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. – Florida A&M senior guard Terrence Woods proved true the old adage that "the last shall be first" here Thursday evening, as he outclassed a field of seven "major college" players in the annual National Basketball Coaches Association/InterSport Three-Point Shootout at the University of Texas-San Antonio Arena.

Terrence Woods

Woods, the nation's top three-point shooter in each of the last two seasons, hit 23 shots in the final, vaulting past the University of Oregon's Luke Jackson, who nailed 20 goals in the final.

The shootout, which was part of a skills competition sponsored by InterSport, leading up to the NCAA Final Four here this weekend, was aired on a taped delay basis by ESPN.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Woods who transferred to FAMU from the University of Tennessee three years ago, hit 17 goals in the opening round and 20 in the second round to reach the finals.

For the mercurial Woods, Thursday's skills' contest victory vindicated his supporters, which included Florida A&M head coach Mike Gillespie, Sr., who lobbied incessantly all season for him to participate in the contest.

Going into last weekend, hopes seemed dim for Woods' inclusion, as he was listed as a first or second alternate, despite having canned 279 three-pointers the past two seasons, perhaps because Florida A&M didn't have a high national profile.

But with two invited players dropping out on Monday, including Duke University's Chris Duhon, Woods was notified on Tuesday that he would indeed get to match wits against seven other "big time" shooters.

Thursday's nationally-televised triumph was yet another proud moment for Florida A&M University and its' men's basketball program, which executed a major reversal of fortune this season.

Third year head coach Mike Gillespie, Sr. led the Rattlers from a dismal 1-10 start, to 14 wins in their final 21 games, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament title and an opening round NCAA Tournament win over Lehigh (Pa.) University, before staging a now-legendary duel with the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in the St. Louis Regionals.

Woods, who finished his collegiate career with 353 three-pointers, the 11th best career total in NCAA Division One history had many stellar moments in his two seasons at FAMU, but capped it off Thursday night with a triumph of individual excellence which will certainly make him one of the all-time greats in Rattler Basketball history.

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