Just four and one half minutes separated the KSU Tuscarawas men from victory last night. The Golden Eagles led from the outset but couldn't close the deal after leading by 10 points at halftime, losing a 77-75 overtime decision to winless Penn State New Kensington in Apollo, PA.

 

The Navy and Gold were red-hot at the outset and scored the first eight points of the game. Braden Rostad scored nine first half points on 4/7 shooting, while Andre Leavell was perfect from the field making two shots from behind the arc and had eight points. The Eagles rode that hot shooting start to a 37-27 lead at the intermission.

 

It was a different story in the final half for the Eagles who committed 11 turnovers after just two miscues before the break. They also struggled at the free throw line and converted just 5/11 (46%) and gave up 40 points in the paint.

 

The Lions shrunk the Golden Eagles halftime advantage to four points with baskets in their first three possessions. KSU Tusc roared back to take an 11 point lead at 52-41 with 11:41 to play, but then went cold and PSNK ripped off 10 consecutive points to trail 52-51 at the 8:03 mark.

 

The Eagles clung to their slim advantage until the Lions finally tied the game at 58-58 with 4:29 left, before Rostad drained a three-ball for a 61-58 cushion and it appeared that the Eagles had finally regained control. Once again the hosts fought their way to a tie at 61-61, but two Jacob Hicks baskets after Malik Campbell steals gave the Eagles the upper hand at 65-61. The Lions wrestled that lead away with 1:22 left on a three point basket and layup for their first lead of the game at 66-65.

 

A split pair of free throws by the Golden Eagles knotted the game once again at 66-66. The second free chance was missed and KSU Tusc gathered the rebound only to turn the ball over. With :22 left in regulation, Hicks blocked a PSNK shot in the lane and secured the rebound to send the game into overtime.

 

The Lions got the extra session started with two free throws for a 68-66 lead, but the Eagles answered with a Hicks layup and Gunnar Tharp three for a short-lived 71-70 lead. The game teetered back and forth with the Eagles taking a 75-74 lead with 41 seconds left, but it was the last time they would have the advantage. Down the stretch KSU Tusc missed a layup and committed a costly turnover while the Lions added a layup and another free throw for the winning margin of 77-75.

 

Tharp led the Golden Eagles with 19 points, Rostad scored 15, Andre Leavell had 12 and Campbell added 10 points. Hicks led KSU in rebounds with nine and also scored nine points. Both Hicks and Leavell were saddled by foul trouble in the second half.

 

With the loss, the Eagles fall to 2-7 on the year as they suffered their fifth straight loss with three of those losses coming by a total of four points.

 

The team travels to Wright State Lake on Thursday, December 5th in a 6:00 p.m. start.

 

Malik Campbell applies ball pressure as Gunnar Tharp moves to help stop the defender.

 

Coach Tharp strategizes during a timeout.                                                                 (Photos by Jason Keller)