Edge of Your Seat Madness: Men's Basketball Prevails Over Indiana Tech in Double-OT

(Lansing, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar men's basketball team welcomed the #12 ranked Indiana Tech Warriors to Gannon Gym Wednesday evening for a critical WHAC matchup.  For the first time in program history, the men's basketball team earned a victory over Indiana Tech in a thrilling 92-87 double-overtime game.

After a back and forth start saw the two teams tied 7-7, Cleary would get hot, and went on a 13-0 run to build a 20-7 lead.  Indiana Tech would stop the run with a made two, but Chaz Cobbs Jr. would hit a three on the next Cougar possession, and Cleary led 23-9, their largest lead of the game, heading into the under-10:00 media timeout.  The Warriors would chip away at the Cleary lead, but Cleary would bend and not break, holding a double-digit advantage for most of the remaining first half minutes.  A late run by Indiana Tech, which included a jumper with 2:00 to play cut the Cleary lead to five.  With under a minute to play, the Warriors would make it a 33-30 game after scoring a layup.  Nick Ellis would hit a three on the final possession of the first half, sending Cleary into the half with a 36-30 lead.

The Warriors would continue to chip away at the Cleary lead, and within seven minutes of second half action, the lead had shrunk to one point for the Cougars.  A foul by Cleary would allow Indiana Tech to tie the game at 44-44, but Nick Ellis would make three free throws to answer, and the scoreboard favored Cleary once again.  Cleary would build a 58-53 lead with just over 7:00 to play after an Isaiah Bailey layup, but Indiana Tech answered with five points in a row to tie the game at 58-58 once again.  Indiana Tech would take the lead for the first time in the second half at the free throw line with 5:01 left in the game, leading to more back and forth to finish regulation.  Trailing by two points with just over a minute to go, Zane Kemp would get fouled, made both free throws, tying the game at 68-68.  Both teams would be held scoreless in the final minute, forcing Cleary's second overtime game in their last three.

Indiana Tech would take the lead to open the first overtime, but the Cougars would answer each time.  After Indiana Tech made one of two free throws, Nick Ellis would make an and-one, giving Cleary a 77-75 lead with 1:36 to go.  After a defensive stop, the lead grew to 79-75 with 0:40 to play, when Tim Kewley got an offensive rebound and put back.  With Cleary leading 81-77, Indiana Tech scored a layup, and fouled quickly, sending Isaiah Bailey to the free throw line.  Bailey would miss both free throws, opening the door for the Warriors, who tied the game with 0:04 to play.  The Cougars would push with Bennie Crenshaw Jr., who had a good look as time expired, but his shot would be off the mark, putting five more minutes on the clock.

Just like the first overtime, Indiana Tech would take the lead, building as much as a three point lead with 2:34 to play in the second overtime.  Isaiah Bailey would make a contested layup to get Cleary back within one, and after a defensive stop, Nick Ellis gave Cleary the lead for good when he made a three with 1:50 left to play.  Another defensive stop by Cleary forced the Warriors to foul, sending Bennie Crenshaw Jr. to the line, where he made both to extend the lead to 90-86.  Cleary would commit a foul, where Indiana Tech made one of two, which forced the Warriors to foul again to extend the game.  Nick Ellis would make both of the resulting free throws to ice the game, as Cleary handed Indiana Tech their third straight loss.

Nick Ellis had a team high 26 points with 5 rebounds.  Isaiah Bailey would be massive off the bench, with 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.  Zane Kemp had 17 points, while Bennie Crenshaw Jr. had 11 points and 9 assists.  Jacob Mueller rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points and 5 rebounds.  Tim Kewley was also key off the bench, with 9 rebounds and 4 more blocks to his already WHAC leading total.

The win was the first over Indiana Tech in program history, and the first win over a ranked team in program history. 

The win, which was Cleary's third in a row, now gives the team a 9-13 record overall, 8-9 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be on the road Saturday as they look to avenge a loss from December, as they visit Adrian to take on the Siena Heights Saints.  The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM.