(Fond du Lac, WI) - Marian University made it back-to-back victories on Wednesday evening as they won an exciting 72-65 overtime contest at Sadoff Gymnasium. The Sabres shot 50% (25-for-50) from the field in the contest and had four players score more than thirteen points to help move back to .500 in the Northern Athletics Conference. The Sabres are now 8-10 overall and 5-5 in the NAC. By defeating the conference leaders, the Sabres moved to within a game of first place in the NAC North.
The Eagles took a 25-22 lead into the locker room as they forced Marian into nine first half turnovers. The Eagles led by as many as nine points in the first half, but had no answer for Marian's Jeff Harris (Calumet Park, IL) as the freshman was 3-for-3 from deep in the half in just six minutes played.
In the second, the Eagles took a 32-22 lead with 17:58 to play and appeared on their way to grabbing control of the contest. The Sabres patiently worked their way back and eventually tied the game at 50-50 with 5:24 to play.
With 5:00 to play, the Sabres appeared to commit a crucial error. The Eagles hit a three-pointer and Marian was also charged with an off-the-ball foul which gave the Eagles possession. They converted a layup to make it a five-point possession. The Eagle lead reached six points after a free throw at the 4:01 mark, but Marian's Logan Rankin (Algoma, WI) scored four straight points to cut the deficit to 56-54 with 2:47 to play.
After an Eagle free throw gave them a 57-54 lead with 1:59 to play, both teams missed field goal attempts. That set the stage for Harris to drain another big three, this time tying the game at 57 with :46 to play.
Edgewood missed the front end of a bonus situation with :13 to play and Marian took advantage. Kevin Hudak (Ashwaubenon, WI) hit what appeared to be the game-winning jumper from the baseline with seven seconds to play. However, Edgewood's Derek Nkemnji took the ball coast-to-coast after a timeout to tie the game as time expired.
In overtime, Rankin scored the first four points to give the Sabres the lead. After an Eagle three cut the lead to one, Bryan Ashbeck (Wabeno, WI) hit a three of his own to push the lead back up to four. The closest the Eagles got the rest of the way was three points, but Marian sealed the game from the free throw line going 6-for-6 down the stretch.
Harris and Ashbeck led the team in scoring with 15 points each. Harris hit five 3-pointers while Ashbeck hit three deep balls. Hudak finished with 14 points and a game-high 7 rebounds from the guard position, while Rankin finished with 13 points. Andrew Georgson (Jefferson, WI) dished out 6 assists and added 3 steals.
Marian out-rebounded the Eagles 38-31 in the contest.