Brown Wins OT Thriller Over Niagara
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
If you haven't been to Brown University's Pizzitola Sports center lately, you're missing out on some real exciting basketball!
Tuesday night, the Bears won their second straight thriller at home by downing Niagara 75-74 in overtime.
Having rallied from 7 points down to beat intra-city rival Providence 11 days earlier, the Bears dug themselves an early hole trailing the Purple Eagles by 19 points with just 3:29 remaining in the first half. But a 10-1 run to end the half pulled Brown to within 10 at the break 37-27.
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The Bears came out of the gates storming in the second half knocking down three consecutive three-pointers bringing the fans to their feet at the Pizz.
A Tahjere McCall (6 points) three-pointer with 1:32 left in regulation put the visitors up by six 62-56. But the never-say-die Bears responded.
A Matt Sullivan (20 points) lay-up and fould shot pulled Brown to within three at 62-59 with 1:22 left and then a Sullivan three-pointer from the top of the key with just :12 seconds left tied the game at 62-62.
In overtime, Niagara jumped out to a 3-point lead on three made free throws before junior Sean McGonagill (23 points) nailed a three to tie the game at 65-65.
Baskets by Cedric Kuakumensah (6 points) and Tyler Ponticelli (6 points) put Brown in the lead for good and McGonagill and Tucker Halpern (15 points, 10 rebounds) sealed the win from the free-throw line.
Brown dominated the backboards outrebounding Niagara 53-42.
The Purple Eagles (7-8) were led in scoring by Ameen Tanksley's 18 points. Juan'ya Green scored 17.
The win lifts the Bears record to (5-8) with a home game Saturday against division 3 Daniel Webster on deck at 2pm. It's the Bears final non-league game before Ivy League play begins a week from Saturday.
