CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – A 20-point first-half deficit miraculously turned into a 20-point win for eighth-ranked Lindsey Wilson College as it used 28 points from DeAntra Scott to beat Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 88-68 on Saturday in the Lou Cunningham Classic at the Powell Athletic Center.
The Blue Raiders fell victim to hot shooting by the RedHawks in the first half as they built a 38-18 lead with 4:50 left to play. Martin Methodist shot 66.7 percent from 3-point range in the half, hitting 8-of-12 shots.
Needing a total change of momentum to mount a comeback, the thrilling run started with three minutes left in the first half as Lindsey Wilson used a 14-0 run to get back within six points at 38-32 at the start of the second half.
Trailing 42-32 with 17 minutes left in the game, Lindsey Wilson used two threes by Clark to spark a 13-3 run that tied the game at 45-45 just four minutes later.
The Blue Raiders captured their first lead of the game at 50-49 on a three-point play by Scott as he was fouled on a breakaway layup. Scott, who's 28 were a career high, was joined in double figures by Daronte' Clark with a career-best 22 points.
Clark made 6-of-7 threes in the game as Lindsey Wilson finished 11-for-29 as a team. Clark and Scott were also the leading rebounders with five each.
Martin Methodist was led by Josh Watson with 18 points and Antonio Coleman and Brandon Hunter with 10 each.
Out of the gate Martin Methodist showed it could knock down a deep shot, hitting its first three 3-point attempts of the game. After hitting their fifth three and converting a layup, the RedHawks led Lindsey Wilson 18-13 with 11:05 left unitl halftime.
After a baseline jumper from Martin Methodist and a driving layup by Demario Williams, the RedHawks had their largest lead yet at 22-13. After Lindsey Wilson's solid run over the final three minutes of the half, Martin Methodist saw its earlier 20-point lead trimmed to a 38-29 lead at halftime.
After the game's narrative changed in the second half and Lindsey Wilson found its first lead at 50-49, it decided to not let off the gas.
A 14-7 second-half run started with Chase Cox hitting a three, followed by another three from Clark. On the next Blue Raider possession, Scott finished a 3-point play off an assist from Cox to put Lindsey Wilson in front 64-56 with 6:58 left in the game.
The Blue Raiders continued to build their lead as Chris Bridges found a cutting Darren Ballou on a no-look pass to make it a 12-point lead with less than four minutes to play.
The RedHawks never got back into the game, as Simon Barres' layup made it a 20-point lead (88-68), finishing off one of the more stunning comebacks surely to be completed in the NAIA this season.
Both teams shot well as Martin Methodist led the way from the field at 54.0 percent, compared to 52.0 percent for the Blue Raiders. The RedHawks shot 57.9 percent from 3-point range with Lindsey Wilson at 37.9 percent.
Martin Methodist also controlled the glass for a 35-22 rebounding advantage, while the RedHawks did turn the ball over 26 times, 15 more times than Lindsey Wilson with 11.