Men's Basketball shock Gents late to Triumph in OT

IRVING, Texas – Playing its first overtime of the year at the Maher Athletic Center, the University of Dallas men's basketball team (13-7, 4-6 SCAC) knocked off top-ranked Centenary College of Louisiana (12-9, 8-3 SCAC) on Friday night, 87-84. The triumph moves Dallas to 3-0 in overtime contests this campaign, and evens the season-series with the Gents one win apiece.

UD also ended Centenary's seven-game winning-streak with its third league win at home. It also snapped a three-game slide in head-to-head matchups versus the Maroon and White.

It was a nail-biter throughout the contest, with the squads tied 13 occassions and trading leads 16 times. In extra regulation, Centenary claimed an early two-point lead off a pair of James Sapp free throws. UD evened things at 81-all after senior Aaron Wyatt (Frisco, Texas) hit one-of-two from the charity stripe with 2:52 remaining.

The forward, who scored 10 of his team-high 16 points in the second half and final six in overtime; would lift the Crusaders by a basket nearly a minute later on a jumper. After a turnover by the Gents, Wyatt shifted the momentum for the Navy and White with a huge layup to extend the advantage, 85-82.

Centenary countered with a layup from Sapp with just under a minute in the first overtime frame, but that would be the final points for the road team, as sophomore Michael Sarrat (Colleyville, Texas) put UD in front by a trio again.

The Gents missed a pair of crucial free throws that would have knotted the contest prior and a last second trey attempt from Kendall Demouchet missed the mark to seal the victory for the Crusaders on extra regulation thriller.

With a halftime score 30-27 in favor of the Maroon and White, Dallas rallied behind a six-point deficit in the first minute and a half to regain the edge on a Wyatt layup with 16:39. It was the senior's first field goal of the contest and capped a 7-0 run for his team.

The road squad responded with a 10-1 stretch to build the largest edge for either group tonight by nine points with 14:23 remaining. UD never wavered and charged back again with eight-straight points.

The Navy and White kept chipping away and were down nine again with 2:29. UD posted a 13-4 outburst to close the second half out and leave the score knotted after 40 minutes. Wyatt drained a trey with 1:03 minutes in regulation to nip a six-point deficit in half. The Gents countered with a basket, but the Crusaders caught fire from downtown.

Sarrat decreased the margin to 74-72 with a three-pointer, and sophomore Lorenzo Gonzalez (San Antonio, Texas) brought the crowd off their feet with a clutch trey to tie the game with four seconds remaining.

Centenary would be unable to connect and the first conference overtime game for Dallas would occur this season. All three of UD's games in overtime have been forced by a game-tying three. The Gents have also participated in a trio of games beyond regulation, and are now 1-2, with all contests involving league opponents.

Behind Wyatt's team-high were senior Mark Promberger (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Sarrat tallying 14 points apiece. Senior Kym Malone (Richardson, Texas) completed the quartet of double figure scoring performers with 10. He also dished out eight assists, as the team notched 17 overall.

For the first time on the year, UD had multiple players notch double-doubles with senior forward duo Wyatt and Promberger matching a team-high 11 rebounds.

Centenary was paced offensively by Travion Kirkendoll with 22 points. Sapp contributed a double-double with 18 points and game-high 14 boards. Isiaiah Whitaker finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Both squads turned the ball over 14 times, and the Gents scored 19 times off the miscues while Dallas posted 13 in that category. UD outshot the Maroon and White 44 percent to 39 percent, while Centenary College connected at a 47 percent clip from behind the three-point arc, and the Crusaders were 44 percent.

STAT OF THE GAME

Dallas garnered a season-best 50 team rebounds, outdoing the Gents' 39 total on the glass. The charity stripe was not kind for either squad as each missed 10 attempts.

UP NEXT

Dallas will host Colorado College tomorrow at 8 p.m. following the women's basketball game.