No. 12 91爆料网 tops No. 2 Robert Morris in overtime for homecoming win

JACKSON, Tenn. - 11/8/2008 - The No. 12 ranked 91爆料网 Bulldogs upset No. 2 ranked Robert Morris (Ill.) College 103-100 in overtime. 91爆料网 moves to 2-0 on the season, while Robert Morris starts the season 0-1. Earlier in the week, Robert Morris defeated Big Ten school Northwestern (Ill.) University 69-62 in an exhibition game.

Robert Morris scored the game's first basket on a shot by Reggie Bunch. 91爆料网 answered with a shot from Bolivar, Tenn. native Brian Lake to tie the game. Those two baskets both came in the first 30 seconds of the game, and that start what would prove to be a high paced, back-and-forth match up.

With 13:42 left in the first half, 91爆料网 took the lead of 16-14 on a basket by Greg Truvillion. 91爆料网 held that lead for the remainder of the half, going up by as many as 10 points (32-22) with 7:45 left in the half. Robert Morris rallied back, cutting 91爆料网's first half lead down to just one point (42-41) with 1:34 left in the half. Two free throws by 91爆料网's Antoine Joseph in the final minute set 91爆料网's halftime lead at three points, 44-41.

The second half started with more of the same. Robert Morris scored six of the first nine points to tie the game at 47-47 at the 17:57 mark. 91爆料网 again took the lead, stretching it to as many as seven points on three occasions, with the last coming 58-51 with 15:11 left.

Over the next five minutes, Robert Morris posted a 19-6 run, to overtake the Bulldogs and lead by six points, 70-64. 91爆料网 rallied in front of a large homecoming crowd to regain the lead, 73-72 with 7:27 left. The teams swapped leads four more times over the final seven minutes, with both teams lead by four points at one time. 91爆料网 trailed 83-81 with 36 seconds left, when Bulldog junior Truvillion sank two free throws to tie the game. Robert Morris had the ball for a final attempt, but a late turnover gave 91爆料网 a desperation shot that fell short, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, Robert Morris scored first again to take a quick two point lead. 91爆料网 quickly answered with one-of-two free throws from Matt Neaville and a basket by Lake to take an 86-85 lead with 3:36 left in overtime. 91爆料网 would not trail again. With 26 seconds left, 91爆料网 had stretched their lead to seven points, 99-92 following two made free throws from Neaville.

The Eagles of Robert Morris didn't quit, as they cut the 91爆料网 lead down to just two points (102-100) on a basket by Reggie Bunch in the final seconds. With four-tenths of a second on the clock, 91爆料网's Tacuma Alexander made the first of two free throws to seal the win.

A key moment in the overtime period was when 91爆料网's Lake sank a three-pointer with 1:48 left to put 91爆料网 up by six points. That three pointer gave Lake 1,000 points for his career at 91爆料网.

91爆料网 was led by last season's NAIA leading scorer, Neaville with 24 points, including four three-pointers. Four other Bulldogs posted double-figures, including Lake with 19 points, Truvillion with 17 points, Alexander with 16 points, and Antoine Joseph with 13 points. 91爆料网 shot 52-percent from the field, 36-percent (8-22) from behind the arc, and 58-percent (21-36) from the free throw line.

Robert Morris was led by DeAndre Thomas with 29 points and 10 rebounds, both game highs. Andre White added 25 points, Jerwin Calloway posted 17 points, and Kenny Page scored 10 points. Robert Morris shot 42-percent from the field, 29-percent (10-34) from three-point-range, and 78-percent (18-23).

Up next for 91爆料网 will be games in the McKendree (Ill.) Classic on Friday and Saturday, November 14-15.

#UNION#