PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (Men's Basketball) – Despite a career-high 30 points and a double-double from Nick Tingle (SR/Clayton, Ohio), the Shawnee State men's basketball team saw a last-second shot from Cumberland University's Marquel Hickerson kiss off the glass as the buzzer sounded to give the Phoenix an 85-84 victory in double overtime on Saturday afternoon at Frank & Janis Waller Gymnasium.
The Bears used a tip-in from Tingle with 31 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, but saw Hickerson score on the final possession of both overtime and double overtime. The first came in the form of a triple with two seconds remaining to bring the score even at 74.
The second – and game winner – came just 10 seconds after Dante Dunston (SR/Dallas, Texas) connected on 1-of-2 free throws to put the Bears ahead by one, 84-83. Hickerson drove the length of the floor and maneuvered into the paint, lofting a floater which caught glass and fell through the net as time expired.
In the second half, Shawnee State was able to build an 11-point advantage by the 15:20 mark on the back of Tingle, who connected for seven points in the opening minutes of the period.
Cumberland surged back into the game over the next three minutes, using an 11-0 run to bring the score back to even at 50-50 just three minutes later. The Phoenix forced the Bears into an 0-for-4 stretch during that span, while Hickerson and Cameron Johnson combined for all 11 points.
Four Shawnee State players scored in double figures in the contest, led by Tingle's career-high. Blake Yates (SO/Lucasville, Ohio) added 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while Ethan Moffatt (SR/Somerville, Tenn.) scored 12 and Devon Carter (SR/Clayton, Ohio) added 11.
Shawnee State was dominated on the glass throughout the contest, as the Phoenix grabbed 45 rebounds, including 17 on the offensive end. SSU was limited to just 36 total caroms in the game.
Shawnee State returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 21, when they take on the University of the Cumberlands at the O. Wayne Rollins Center in Williamsburg, Ky. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m.
