COLUMBIA, Ky. -- The Lindsey Wilson College men's basketball team scored the game's final nine points in double overtime to beat Brescia (Ky.) University 81-77 tonight at Biggers Sports Center.
Junior guard Eric McPherson scored seven of the final nine points for a game-high 32 to lead No. 18 Lindsey Wilson (13-2) to victory and snap the Bearcats seven-game winning streak.
The Cleveland native scored 14 in the two extra periods, including his only three-pointer of the game with 6.1 seconds left in the first overtime to force the decisive period.
In the first overtime, Brescia (12-6) jumped out to a 68-65 lead when junior Andrew Howard hit his fourth three pointer of the game. McPherson and senior guard Quintez Thomas responded with back-to-back lay ups giving the Blue Raiders a 69-68 lead with just over a minute remaining.
Brescia junior Anthony Ingram scored on two straight possessions -- a pair of free throws and a baseline jumper -- to give the Bearcats the 72-69 lead setting up the McPherson heroics. Ingram finished the game with a team-high 25 points.
After a Lindsey Wilson timeout McPherson banked in the three-pointer from the right wing to send the game into a second overtime tied at 72-72.
Brescia senior forward Anthony McNeal made a lay up and Howard banged home his fifth three of the game giving the Bearcats a five point lead one minute into the second overtime. The Bearcats did not score again as the Blue Raiders closed with the 9-0 run to claim the win.
Brescia scored 11 of the game's first 16 points before the Blue Raiders regained the momentum to take a 19-14 lead midway through the half. The lead changed two more times in the first half before a three-pointer at the buzzer by Howard sent the two teams to the locker room tied at 32-32.
The Bearcats opened the second half on a 13-6 run capped by a Howard three pointer giving Brescia its largest lead of the night (45-38) with 13:35 remaining. Howard finished the game with 17 points.
Lindsey Wilson answered with a 15-8 run of its own and regained the lead after a fade-away jumper by junior forward Andrija Tintor with 7:04 remaining. Tintor finished with a double-double scoring 17 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. The 13 boards helped the Blue Raiders to a 47-33 rebounding advantage.
In the final minute Ingram scored in the paint giving Brescia a 63-61 lead. McPherson responded with a pair of free throws to send the game into overtime tied at 63-63.
Walton joined McPherson and Tintor in double-digits with 10 points. McNeal ended with 20.
Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 17, as the Blue Raiders host Pikeville (Ky.) College at Biggers Sports Center.