CLEVELAND, Tenn.-Sophomore guard
Jeff Larkin (Cincinnati, Ohio, La Salle HS) knocked down a 28-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Christian Brothers University Bucs to an 80-78 overtime win at Lee Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• Early on, the Bucs (9-10, 7-6 GSC) seemed to have the game well in hand, using a 22-4 run capped by a
Drew Hildreth (Memphis, Tenn./Bolton HS) trey to take a 27-9 advantage with 11:02 remaining in the first half.
• The Flames (5-13, 3-10) scored the next 10 to pull back within single digits on a Rantavious Gilbert bucket with 7:42 remaining in the half, and they came as close as six in the final minute of the first half.
• Lee took the lead with an 11-0 run early in the second half, capped by a Cody Farley jumper that gave them a 51-50 edge with 12:54 remaining, and a later 7-0 burst gave them a 62-57 lead on a Levi Woods tip-in with 5:43 to play.
• As the teams traded leads late in regulation, the Flames took a 70-68 lead on a pair of Levi Woods free throws with 18 seconds remaining. The Bucs worked the ball in to
Adam Dieball (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East HS), who drew a foul with 6.6 seconds remaining, and he sank both free throws to force overtime.
• A Hildreth three, two
Alex Trentman (Alexandria, Ky./Bishop Brossart HS) free throws and a Dieball jumper gave the Bucs a 77-72 lead with 2:41 remaining in overtime, but they went cold until the final seconds.
• Lee cut into the lead with a Chase Cullen layup, then an Elgrin Wilson jumper with 46 seconds left brought them within a point at 77-76. After CBU missed a pair of free throws with 28.8 seconds to play, Wilson scored another basket to take a 78-77 lead with 3.6 remaining.
• After a timeout, the Bucs found Larkin, who scored the game-winner as time expired from 28 feet to give CBU the season sweep of Lee.
KEY STATS:• Dieball scored 25 points with five assists, four rebounds and two steals in a career-high 41 minutes.
• Larkin scored 23 with three rebounds, three steals and no turnovers in 41 minutes.
• Hildreth added 19 with five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 41 minutes.
• Trentman scored seven points with team-highs of nine rebounds and two blocks.
• The Bucs shot 38.4 percent (28-of-73) for the game, including 45.5 percent (15-of-33) from three-point range, setting season-highs for threes made and attempted.
• Lee was 43.3 percent (29-of-67) overall, shooting 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from beyond the arc.
• The Flames out-rebounded CBU 48-36, with each team grabbing 16 offensive boards. The Bucs forced 12 Lee turnovers while committing 10.
WHAT'S NEXT:The Bucs return home Thursday night at 7 p.m. as they start a four-game homestand by hosting Mississippi College.
