PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – Men's basketball saw a potential game-tying three came up just short at the final buzzer as Berea (9-4) escaped Waller Gymnasium with a 61-58 victory in the final home game of the 2013 calendar year at Shawnee State (6-6). The missed three came after a frantic final 30 seconds that saw the scored tied at 57-all after a Trevor Banks basket knotted the score.
With the shot clock powered down for the remainder of regulation and 29 seconds on the game clock, the Bears took a timeout to set the defense. However, Berea's Anthony Myrks got to the free throw line with 15 seconds remaining and knocked down both of his attempts, making the score 57-55 in favor of Berea. Both teams were over the foul limit in the final seconds.
With the time winding down, the Bears went down to the paint and Andrew Devlin drew the contact and went to the line for a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining on the clock. He would miss the front end but dropped the second to make it a one point game. Quickly after the inbound from the baseline, the Bears fouled but the Moutaineers hit two more free throws at the other end to make it 61-58. It would stay that way as the last ditch desperation three faded to the right.
In what would be expected from a three-point difference at the final buzzer, the contest was a back-and-fourth affair with nine lead changes, including four in the second half. Berea led for the majority of the second half, but Shawnee State never let the game get out of reach.
The Mountaineers largest lead of the opening half came following a 12-0 run as the Bears went ice cold from the field. With 7:10 remaining in the half, Banks knocked down his second free throw to make it a 16-13 game. However, the Bears would not score another point until Andrew Devlin sank a pair of free throws at the 2:24 mark to cut a previously nine point Berea lead to 25-18.
Starting with the two free throws, the Bears would score the next nine points to tie the game at 25-all. That run featured six points from Devlin with a three from Banks. The Moutaineers would take a lead into the half as they hit a three as time expired in the opening half, giving them a 28-25 lead.
Berea led by seven points on just two occasions in the second half. Both of those times the Moutaineers went up by seven, SSU answered with a basket on the next possession as for all but a couple seconds of game clock, the contest was a two possession game. Those leads of seven came at 34-27 with 17:36 on the clock and 50-43 with 6:59 on the clock. However, the Bears recovered to tie the game after both of those margins.
Trailing by six with 4:11 to play, Mark Bryant knocked down a free throw to make it a five point contest, 55-50. After another defensive stop, Devon Carter completed a three-point play off of his own defensive rebound in transition. The and-one cut the deficit to 55-53 with 2:06 to play.
Berea would get to foul line on its next possession to take back a four point lead with 1:47 left in regulation. Banks would knock down baskets on back-to-back possessions and force the 57-57 tie to set up the final 29 seconds of regulation. However, those final 30 seconds would see Berea hang on for the victory at the free throw line.
Banks finished with a game-high 20 points for the Shawnee State as he just missed a double-double, finishing with nine rebounds. Devlin did finish the game with a double-double as he scored 13 points and pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds.
Today's game was the final home game on the non-conference slate for the Bears. They will travel to UC-Clermont next Thursday in a 7 p.m. tip for the final non-conference game of the season. That contest will also mark the final game of the 2013 calendar year. When men's basketball returns from the holiday break, it will have 16 Mid-South Conference games awaiting them in 2014.
