Overtime not the time for Golden Bears

1/30/2017 11:01:00 PM

Box Score

A strong start from Joshua Samuels, a monster game on the boards from Henrique Cistrunk and late-game heroics from Joshua Johnson were not enough to save Miles from an 84-80 overtime loss to Fot Valley State University Monday night at Knox-Windham Gymnasium.

It was the second overtime game in less than a week for the Golden Bears (3-17, 3-6 SIAC) but this time, the shots were not falling (2-of-8 from field in extra period) and the Wildcats were able to take advantage. Jamaal Garror's (11 points) bucket with 2:20 left gave FVSU (10-11, 8-4) the lead for good as Miles never had the lead over the final five minutes.

The loss overshadowed a monster effort by Cistrunk, who had just five points but his 23 rebounds are tied for the fourth most in Division II this season. One of the three people ahead of him on the list is FVSU's Denard Williams, who scored seven points and grabbed 24 rebounds, which is tied with two others for the high mark.

Miles nearly did not make it to overtime, but Johnson (10 points, four assists) was able to force the extra period when he was fouled on a 3-point attempt and calmly drained all three free throws - the last one after an attempt at being iced by a Wildcats time out - with 0.9 seconds left to tie the game at 73.

Early, it did not look as if Miles would even need the late-game drama. Samuels (14 points) was hot early, scoring nine of the Golden Bears' first 14 points, and FVSU trailed by as many as seven points in the first half. He completed a four-point play with 2:18 left in the half to give the team a five-point lead but a basket at the buzzer by Anton Hurst gave the Wildcats a 36-35 lead at the half.

Miles trailed for most of the second half but by never more than five points thanks to some woeful free throw shooting by the Wildcats. FVSU was 5-for-15 from the charity stripe over the final 20 minutes and 13-for-31 (42 percent) for the game. The Golden Bears did lead 68-65 with less than two minutes to play but were unable to close the deal.

Jalen Crawford scored 14 points and James Barnes (13 points, 12 rebounds) had a double-double for FVSU. Sheldon Wright had a game-high 14 points, Shaquille Cook had his second straight double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Carl Garcia added 13 points for Miles, which hosts Tuskegee at Bill Harris Arena on Saturday, Tip-off time is at approximately 3 p.m.

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