PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (Men's Basketball) – Devon Carter (JR/Clayton, Ohio)'s two free throws with 16 seconds remaining in regulation sent the Shawnee State men's basketball team into overtime with No. 3 University of Pikeville, but the visitors outscored SSU 21-9 in the extra frame en route to a 96-84 victory on Saturday at Frank & Janis Waller Gymnasium.
Shawnee took the lead early sparked by multiple early layups from Andrew Bendolph (SR/Portsmouth, Ohio). There was a momentary scare as Bendolph came up limping after a made basket, but he would return to the game.
Bendolph finished with a team-high 21 points on his senior day – he was honored along with teammate Austin Vance (SR/Lenore, W. Va.) before the contest.
Devon Carter added 16 points, while Nick Tingle (JR/Clayton, Ohio) tacked on 14 to go with a team-high nine rebounds. The home squad out-rebounded UPike, 45-37 in the game.
SSU held the lead until the six minute mark in the first half when Pikeville's K.K. Simmons hit a three-pointer to take the lead. However, Carter would give Shawnee the lead back with a triple.
The Bears would go on a three-point frenzy over the next few minutes. Sean Elliott (JR/Canal Winchester, Ohio) made three shots from behind the arc in the first half, with Devon Carter adding two. Shawnee ended the half with a lead of 41-32
Pikeville came out red-hot in the second half, starting off with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to two. The visiting Bears took their first lead of the second half with a triple from Simmons with 14:44 remaining.
Simmons finished the game with 27 points, as UPike's second leading scorer. Macari Brooks led the way with a game-high 34.
Pikeville would expand its lead to as many as nine through the shooting of Simmons and Brooks, and took an eight point advantage with Kenny Manigault connected with three minutes remaining.
Shawnee climbed back into the game with refined free-throw shooting. Bendolph would also add to his scoring total with two late buckets and a pivotal block as time expired to send the game into overtime.
However, the overtime period belonged to Pikeville, as they jumped ahead by seven near the two-minute mark. The lead would expand from there for the rest of the contest.
Shawnee's next opponent will be no. 23 University of the Cumberlands. The game will take place Feb. 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Frank & Janis Waller Gymnasium.
