COMMERCE – In a game filled with 25 lead changes, the Nicholls Colonels prevailed 87-84 in double overtime over the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team in an instant-classic on Saturday afternoon in the Field House.
Tommie Lewis (Vero Beach, Fla.) drained a three-pointer with less than a second left in the shot clock and 37 seconds left in regulation to put the Lions up 65-62. Diante Smith quickly drilled a three-pointer to tie the game and force overtime.
END OF SECOND HALF SEQUENCE HIGHLIGHT
Nicholls scored the first four points of the first overtime period, but two straight three-pointers put the Lions up 71-69 at the 2:59 mark. With 37 seconds left in overtime and the Lions trailing 73-72,
Ant Abraham (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) knocked down a three-pointer to put the Lions up by two.
The Lions had a three-point lead with eight seconds left on two free throws by
Kwo Agwa (Calgary, Canada), but Smith once-again drilled a game-tying three-pointer, this time with a second left in the first overtime period.
Lewis scored three of the first four points of double overtime, but the Colonels used a quick 6-0 run to lead 84-80 with 22 seconds left. The Lions pulled to within two twice, but Nicholls went 3 for 4 at the line down the stretch. A&M-Commerce's attempt at the buzzer did not touch the rim. Nicholls shot 7 for 9 from the field in the two overtime periods.
The Lions lost their first overtime game of the season and are now 7-12 on the season and 1-5 in Southland Conference play. Nicholls improves to 10-10 overall and 5-2 in SLC play. This was the sixth overtime game of the season for the Colonels, while it was the second for the Lions.
The Colonels had the early lead in the first half, leading by as much as six, but the Lions used a 9-0 run to take a 16-13 lead at the 8:21 mark of the first half. All nine points for the Lions were scored by
Zondrick Garrett (Tuscaloosa, Ala.).
A pair of free throws put Nicholls up 29-25 with 29 seconds left in the first half, which was the first time either team had a two-possession lead since the 12:05 mark. The Lions made two free throws before time expired to trail 29-27 at the half.
In the second half, the Colonels, once again went up six, but the Lions responded with a 13-0 run that put A&M-Commerce up 52-45 with 9:16 left in the game. The Lions did not trail again in regulation and had a lead as big as eight.
At the 5:04 mark of the second half, the Lions were up 60-52. Nicholls scored the next five and 10 of the next eight to tie the game at 62 with 1:08 left in the game, until the three by Lewis put the Lions up once again.
Lewis led the way for the Lions with 26 points as well as four rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Kalen Williams (Augusta, Ga.) totaled 16 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Agwa recorded 10 points, four rebounds, and two steals.
Off the bench, Garrett posted 15 points, seven rebounds, two steals, one assist, and a block. The Lions were outshot, 42 percent to 55 percent in the game. A&M-Commerce shot 11 for 31 from deep and 19 for 25 at the line, with the Colonels holding a 44-28 edge in points from the paint.
Smith scored 29 for the Colonels, who also received a 21-point performance off the bench from Byron Ireland. Smith picked 11 rebounds as well for a double-double.
POST GAME INTERVIEW
UP NEXT
The Lions welcome defending Southland champion, A&M-Corpus Christi, at 7 p.m. on Monday and UIW on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Tickets for both games can be purchased at
LionAthletics.com/Tickets.
-TAMUC-
