CLEVELAND, Ga. (Jan. 11, 2020) – Freshman Brent Kelly, of the Truett McConnell University men's basketball team, drove to the basket in the final seconds of regulation to score the tying bucket to force the game into overtime against Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Kentucky Christian University. The Bears, however, came up short against the Knights (86-83) inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena on Saturday evening. TMU fell to 6-12, 2-11 AAC on the season, while the Knights improved to 7-13, 6-8 AAC.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Regulation saw an evenly matched contest as the lead changed 10 times and the score was tied 11 times. In summary, the Bears outscored the Knights by three in the first half (38-35) but KCU was capable of outscoring TMU by three in the second (37-40). The first 20 minutes of play saw the Bears lead by as much as six and the Knights led by as much as seven points in the second half.
With 1:49 to go in regulation, Xavier Latore drained a 3-pointer to bring the Bears within one point (71-72). Although KCU got back out front by three again (71-74) with 1:02 on the clock, Enocka Franky went 2-for-2 from behind the free throw line to bring TMU back within one with 37 seconds to go (73-74). KCU also got to the free throw line with six seconds to go and went 1-for-2 to put them ahead by two (73-75), but Kelly rose to the occasion. Kelly's game-tying layup went through the net with just one second up on the scoreboard (75-75).
Another Latore 3-pointer put TMU ahead by four points with 2:03 to go in overtime (83-79), however, the Knights did not allow the Bears to score the rest of the way. In fact, the Knights responded with a 3-pointer of their own and scored two more buckets in the paint off a couple of turnovers. Overall, both teams recorded 38 points in the paint.
LEADERS
Four Bears recorded double-digit points but were led by Franky with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, including going 100% from behind from the free throw line (6-for-6). Darius Thrower followed with 18 points, including going 3-for-4 from behind the 3-point arc. Latore added 17 points, who also shot 100% from the free throw line (3-for-3). Cristian Colon had 10 points, Marlon Allen led with 11 rebounds and Kelly led with six assists.
UP NEXT
TMU will hit the road for an AAC matchup at Point University on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m. The Bears will return home to host Bluefield College on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 4:00 p.m.
