COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Down 20 points with 15 minutes to play in the game, the Lindsey Wilson College men's basketball team dug in, took care of the basketball and willed its way to a 76-75 win against Shawnee State (Ohio) University on Thursday at Biggers Sports Center.

The Blue Raiders turned the ball over just nine times while dishing out 17 assists to overcome an otherwise bad game shooting and on the glass.

Shawnee State led the rebounding battle 44-38 and outshot Lindsey Wilson 47.2 to 37.8 percent from the field in the loss.

Senior Jeremiah Diebler hit three 3-pointers to lead the Blue Raiders with 16 points, while Chase Spreen added 14 points and Chase Cox scored 13 points as they both matched Diebler with three 3-pointers.

Tyler Morgan paced the Bears with 22 points, Tyler Boyles added 17 and Keelyn Franklin had 16 points and five assists, but also turned the ball over six times.

Shawnee State rushed out to a 20-point lead just 10 minutes into the game mainly due to a gaudy shooting percentage from behind the arc. The Bears shot 7-of-11 for 63.6 percent on threes in the first half, but a large reason they didn't hold on to their lead was a dismal 14.3 percent showing in the second half.

Adding to the list of advantages Shawnee State held in the game, the Bears hit 17 free throws, compared to just nine for the Blue Raiders. The game simply came down to big plays for Lindsey Wilson and an inability to hold on to the basketball for Shawnee State.

After seemingly never missing in the first half, Lindsey Wilson ended up with three more 3-pointers than the Bears (11-8) and three more made field goals (28-25).

Lindsey Wilson trailed by eight points with seven minutes to play, just eight minutes removed from a 20-point deficit.

From there the Blue Raiders blitzed the Bears and had the deficit cut to just one not even two minutes later. During the stretch Diebler hit two threes, freshman Chase Cox added another and Spreen knocked down a jumper he was fouled on and added a free throw.

With 3:14 to play in the game, sophomore Darren Ballou took a pass from junior Justin Archie in the corner for a three that gave Lindsey Wilson its first lead of the game at 74-72. Morgan answered right back with a runner in the paint to tie the game, but Spreen knocked down a clutch jumper in the game's final minute to put the Blue Raiders up by two.

Down two points, Shawnee State fired and missed on a 3-pointer and layup before Morgan grabbed a rebound and was fouled, sending him to the line for two shots that could tie the game.

Morgan hit the first free throw to pull within one (76-75) but missed the second, forcing the Bears to send junior Charles Baker to the line for Lindsey Wilson.

Baker, shooting one and the bonus, missed the first shot and the Bears took the ball down the court with 10 seconds to play. A seemingly open look for Boyles in the paint was blocked out of bounds by Spreen and Morgan's desperation three at the buzzer missed its mark, giving the Blue Raiders the gutsy one-point win.

Box Score

Photos

Darren Ballou and Jeremiah Diebler Interview