Hicks sends game to OT, wins it with late J
February 6, 2010
COLUMBIA, Ky. – Junior Justin Hicks hit two free throws with 12 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and then a 14-foot jumper with 14 seconds left to push Pikeville College past Lindsey Wilson College 79-78 Saturday at the Biggers Sports Center.
For Hicks, who scored the 1,000th point of his career on Thursday, those were four of only seven points he had in the game.
Lindsey Wilson (12-12, 3-5 in the Mid-South Conference) led by 17 (39-22) after senior Eric McPherson hit a jumper with 58 seconds left in the first half to end a 12-0 Blue Raider run. The edge was 39-24 at the half.
But Pikeville slowly, methodically battled back, getting the lead under double digits for the last time when senior Maurice Thomas hit two free throws with 14:04 left to make it 43-35.
Lindsey led the entire way, and when senior Andrija Tintor hit two free throws with 2:51 left, the edge was back to eight at 66-58. From there, the Bears scored 10 of the last 12 points of regulation.
Down five (68-63) with 21 seconds left, junior Chris Donald scored in traffic and was fouled, hitting the free throw. The Bears then forced a turnover, with Hicks going to the line with 12 seconds left.
The junior from Hazard calmly hit both free throws to tie the game and send it to overtime. It was the first tie of the basketball game.
Pikeville (19-3, 6-2) took their first lead of the game with 4:12 left in overtime when senior Jonathan Clark converted a three-point play (71-68). But Lindsey wasn’t finished, battling back to take the lead twice.
With 29 seconds left, Tintor got the ball inside and scored to tie the game at 77. He hit the free throw to put his team in front 78-77.
But Pikeville got it downcourt to Hicks, who hit a jumper with 14 seconds left. It was only his second field goal in 14 attempts in the game, but put the Bears in front.
Lindsey had two more opportunities, missing inside on a shot the Bears fumbled out of bounds with 4.5 seconds left. McPherson sprang free with a 17-foot jumper as the horn sounded that bounced off the side of the rim.
Clark led the Bears with 16 points and added five rebounds. Donald followed with 15, while Thomas came off the bench for 14 and a team-high eight rebounds.
The Raiders were led by freshman Kalen Kimberland’s 20 points. Tintor turned in a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Raiders won the rebounding battle 45-38.
Junior Jeremiah Diebler had 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the arc, while McPherson finished with 11 and nine rebounds.
Pikeville will return to action on Monday night, traveling to Bristol, Tenn., for the last non-conference game of the season at King College at 7. It will begin Revenge Week for the Bears, who entered the week with only two losses – to King on Dec. 2, and to Campbellsville on Jan. 14. The Tigers come to Pikeville on Thursday night.
Lindsey Wilson will host Rio Grande on Thursday night at 8 p.m. CST.
PC
COLUMBIA, Ky. – Junior Justin Hicks hit two free throws with 12 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and then a 14-foot jumper with 14 seconds left to push Pikeville College past Lindsey Wilson College 79-78 Saturday at the Biggers Sports Center.
For Hicks, who scored the 1,000th point of his career on Thursday, those were four of only seven points he had in the game.
Lindsey Wilson (12-12, 3-5 in the Mid-South Conference) led by 17 (39-22) after senior Eric McPherson hit a jumper with 58 seconds left in the first half to end a 12-0 Blue Raider run. The edge was 39-24 at the half.
But Pikeville slowly, methodically battled back, getting the lead under double digits for the last time when senior Maurice Thomas hit two free throws with 14:04 left to make it 43-35.
Lindsey led the entire way, and when senior Andrija Tintor hit two free throws with 2:51 left, the edge was back to eight at 66-58. From there, the Bears scored 10 of the last 12 points of regulation.
Down five (68-63) with 21 seconds left, junior Chris Donald scored in traffic and was fouled, hitting the free throw. The Bears then forced a turnover, with Hicks going to the line with 12 seconds left.
The junior from Hazard calmly hit both free throws to tie the game and send it to overtime. It was the first tie of the basketball game.
Pikeville (19-3, 6-2) took their first lead of the game with 4:12 left in overtime when senior Jonathan Clark converted a three-point play (71-68). But Lindsey wasn’t finished, battling back to take the lead twice.
With 29 seconds left, Tintor got the ball inside and scored to tie the game at 77. He hit the free throw to put his team in front 78-77.
But Pikeville got it downcourt to Hicks, who hit a jumper with 14 seconds left. It was only his second field goal in 14 attempts in the game, but put the Bears in front.
Lindsey had two more opportunities, missing inside on a shot the Bears fumbled out of bounds with 4.5 seconds left. McPherson sprang free with a 17-foot jumper as the horn sounded that bounced off the side of the rim.
Clark led the Bears with 16 points and added five rebounds. Donald followed with 15, while Thomas came off the bench for 14 and a team-high eight rebounds.
The Raiders were led by freshman Kalen Kimberland’s 20 points. Tintor turned in a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Raiders won the rebounding battle 45-38.
Junior Jeremiah Diebler had 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the arc, while McPherson finished with 11 and nine rebounds.
Pikeville will return to action on Monday night, traveling to Bristol, Tenn., for the last non-conference game of the season at King College at 7. It will begin Revenge Week for the Bears, who entered the week with only two losses – to King on Dec. 2, and to Campbellsville on Jan. 14. The Tigers come to Pikeville on Thursday night.
Lindsey Wilson will host Rio Grande on Thursday night at 8 p.m. CST.
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