The LeMoyne-Owen College men's basketball team is now 14-10 and winners of their last three games. The Magicians defeated Kentucky State University 132-129 in a triple-overtime classic.
KSU jumped out to a hot start, maintaining their lead throughout most of the first half. They would extend their lead to twelve points before freshman guard Tariq Shepherd buried a side step three to cut the Kentucky State lead nine points to end the half. The Magicians trailed 48-39.
The Magicians defense struggled to get stops in the first half and the second half began with more of the same, as Montrell Jacobs hit three triples to extend the lead to 14 at 59-45 with 17:26 left in the second half. Jacobs finished with a game high 34 points after going scoreless in the first half.
Kentucky State controlled the game throughout the half leading by 11 points with 2:20 remaining in the game. The Magicians defense anchored by SIAC Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jaquan Lawrence, forced turnovers and were able to make enough plays to give them one last shot as they trailed by three points with 8.3 seconds remaining.
Magicians head coach Bonzi Wells called his final timeout and turned to his clipboard. "We talked it over as a staff and decided we wanted to get the ball in Gjerard hands, we drew it up and he made a big play for us", said LeMoyne-Owen Head Coach Bonzi Wells.
In the first overtime, both teams had opportunities in the final seconds to win the game but came up short with KSU turning the ball over in the paint, and freshman forward Micah Evans attempt hit the side of the backboard as time expired at 106 even.
In the final two overtime periods the Magicians outlasted Kentucky State 26-23 and picked up the 132-129 road win, making them 8-8 in conference play.
Gjerard Wilson led the team in scoring with 26 points and is now averaging 22.0ppg over the course of the last 5 games. Also in double-figures for the Magicians we're Tariq Shepherd (25),Dwight Murray (18), Andrew Anderson (17), Jaquan Lawrence(15) Micah Evans (14), and Trevor Blackmon (10). The Magicians are now 3-0 since the return of seniors Jaquan Lawrence and Trevor Blackmon who were out of the lineup due to injury.
Up Next
LeMoyne-Owen will travel to Fairfield, Alabama on February 22. They will play 22-3 Miles College in matchup number two between the two teams this season. The Golden Bears defeated the Magicians 65-63 on a last second shot in the final seconds of regulation play at Bruce-Johnson Hall.
