LAKE CHARLES – McNeese State freshman guard James Harvey's three at the buzzer fell short and Southeastern Louisiana held on for a thrilling 79-76 overtime victory over the Cowboys in Southland Conference men's basketball action Monday night in Burton Coliseum.
The maturing Lions (7-18, 5-7 Southland) have won four of their last five games after Monday's win. Coach
Jay Ladner's squad won for the first time this season in 16 games away from home and completed the season sweep of the host Cowboys (6-17, 4-9 Southland).
McNeese State took a 76-74 lead midway through overtime on a free throw by freshman guard Jarren Greenwood. After the teams traded empty possessions, SLU junior forward
Jordan Capps drew a foul and netted both free throws to knot the score at 76-76 with 2:16 remaining in the extra period.
The score would remain tied until 1:08 remaining, as freshman forward
Moses Greenwood put in a short jump hook to give the Lions a 78-76 lead.
McNeese State had a chance to tie the game at the free throw line with 48 seconds remaining. However, freshman forward Adrian Brown missed both free throws to allow Southeastern to maintain the lead.
After SLU came up empty on its ensuing possession, Greenwood missed a tough shot for the Cowboys and senior guard
JaMichael Hawkins cleared the rebound. After being fouled, Hawkins made one of two free throws to push the lead to three. After a timeout, Harvey's last second prayer fell well short and the Lions secured their first win away from the University Center since a 65-59 victory at Nicholls on Feb. 14, 2015.
Southeastern had a balanced effort led by senior guard
Zay Jackson and Capps. Jackson matched his season-high with 23 points to go with a team-high five assists, while Capps posted his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Hawkins chipped in with 12 points to give the Lions a trio in double figures.
Southeastern jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the opening minutes, but McNeese State quickly answered. The first 12 minutes were evenly played, as Hawkins slashed to the hoop to tie the score, 20-20, with 8:21 remaining.
McNeese took the lead to 27-20 with seven straight points and would maintain the lead throughout the half. A pair of free throws by junior forward
James Currington cut the lead to 34-29 with 3:06 left. However, the Cowboys scored the half's final eight points to take a 42-29 lead into the half.
The Lions came out in the second half a different team that the initial 20 minutes. Over the first sever-plus minutes of the final period, Southeastern out-scored the hosts, 20-7, with a three by freshman guard
Dimi Cook tying it up, 49-49, with 12:57 left.
McNeese would later grow the lead to eight points, but Southeastern would just not go away. Consecutive threes by junior guard Josh Filmore gave SLU its first lead since the opening minutes, 66-63, with 4:46 left in the contest.
The Liosn would eventually stretch the lead to 70-64 on a bucket by Capps with 2:12 left. But this time it was the Cowboys' turn to show resiliency, as Harvey hit a three to cut the lead to 72-71 with 27 seconds left.
Hawkins was then fouled and had a chance to make it a three-point game. The senior hit both free throws, but freshman guard
Marlain Veal was called for a lane violation on the second make to hold the lead at 73-71 with 18 seconds left.
McNeese State freshman guard Jamaya Burr then penetrated, scored and drew a foul on Filmore. However, Burr left the potential game-winning free throw short and Capps grabbed the rebound. Jackson launched an off-balance shot to try to win it in regulation, but it rimmed out and Currington's tip-in at the buzzer would not stay down, forcing overtime.
Burr led McNeese State with 19 points. The Cowboys finished with four players in double figures, as Burr was joined by senior center Matthew Moss (13 points), Harvey (12 points) and senior forward Austin Lewis (10 points).
Southeastern will be back in action on Sunday, when it travels to Abilene Christian for a 1 p.m. Southland Conference contest. The game will be televised live on ESPN3. Fans can all listen live on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at
www.LionSports.net.
Southeastern Louisiana (7-18, 5-7 SLC)
Capps 3-8 5-7 11, Nelson 0-4 0-0 0, Veal 3-6 3-5 9, Filmore 2-6 0-0 6, Jackson 8-17 4-4 23, Cook 3-7 0-0 8, Hawkins 4-9 2-3 12, Greenwood 3-6 0-0 6, Currington 1-4 2-3 4. Totals 27-67 16-22 79.
McNeese State (6-17, 4-9 SLC)
Lewis 5-6 0-0 10, McFerrin 2-2 0-0 4, Burr 7-14 5-7 21, Harvey 4-10 2-2 12, Greenwood 1-6 3-9 5, Johnson 0-3 0-0 0, Moss 5-8 0-0 13, Jackson 3-7 1-1 8, Potier 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 1-3 0-2 2, Ugochukwu 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 28-61 12-23 76.
Halftime – MCN 42, SLU 29. End of Regulation – SLU 73, MCN 73. 3-point goals – SLU 9-18 (Jackson 3-5, Hawkins 2-6, Filmore 2-3, Cook 2-2, Capps 0-1, Veal 0-1), MCN 8-26 (Moss 3-5, Harvey 2-8, Burr 2-4, Jackson 1-2, Greenwood 0-3, Johnson 0-3, Potier 0-1). Technical Fouls – None. Fouled Out – Lewis. Rebounds – SLU 47 (Capps 16), MCN 35 (Three with 5). Assists – SLU 12 (Jackson 5), MCN 16 (Johnson 5). Total Fouls – SLU 19, MCN 21. A - 350.
