A double-digit loss in overtime of a basketball game is a rare occurrence but unfortunately one that the Texas Southern University men’s basketball found themselves on the wrong end after dropping an 89-74 decision to Prairie View A&M University on Saturday evening inside an intense H&PE Arena.
TSU (7-15, 3-6 SWAC) nearly lost the game in the first overtime session had it not been for a furious comeback in the final 34 seconds of the extra period after falling behind 71-65.
PVAMU (8-14, 4-5 SWAC) gave up the costly points with the clock stopped as in a pair of free throws to Chris Craig with 34 seconds left in overtime number one. A Panther free throw made it 72-67, but PJ Henry quickly rushed back down the court a drilled a three just six seconds later for TSU. The Tigers got the ball back after a Panther turnover and Henry missed the go-ahead trey, but TSU’s John Walker III was Johnny On-The-Spot hauling in a massive rebound and earning the game-tying basket to send it to the second overtime.
Down 23-10 midway through the first half, TSU would take what looked like was an impending disaster and turned it into a streak that turned the game on its edge with an astounding 31-5 run from 9:07 left in the first half to 17:21 to go in regulation. During that streak, TSU was 10-for-18 from the field and 11-for-12 from the charity stripe with a pair of steraks. Davon Barnes recorded eight of his team-high 19 total points during the run as well as seven from Zytarious Mortle and six from Walker III.
As for Prairie View during Texas Southern’s long run, the Panthers went from 6:14 left in the first half to the 14:20 mark of the second half for a field goal-less run of 11:54 game clock time.
Then, suddenly, the TSU train headed towards a potential double-digit backbreaking margin took a 180 degree turn and it did as PVAMU went on a 27-9 run over nearly 14 minutes to take the lead at 55-50.
TSU finally woke from its slumber with five-straight points with an add-one play off an offensive rebound and putback. Both teams would then exchange free throws for a 57-57 score at the end of regulation.
Barnes would finish with 19 points and seven rebounds while teammate Walker II narrowly missed a double-double with 15 points, nine rebounds, a block and a steal. Mortle ended the game with a strong performance of 14 points, four rebounds, three steals and an assist.
PVAMU’s Hegel Augustin led all scorers with 21 points.
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The Tigers will have Monday off from game action and won’t see an opponent to lace up with shoes against until next Saturday when Florida A&M makes the long trip from Tallahassee, Fla., to Houston. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. CST.
Courtesy: TSUSports.com