OREM, Utah – Morgan Means banked home a runner from the left block with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime and Seattle University men's basketball overcame a rough second half to prevail, 87-85, over Utah Valley Saturday at the UCCU Center in Orem, Utah.
The Wolverines (9-16, 3-6 WAC) attempted a Hail Mary full court pass that was picked off by Terrell Brown and handed the Redhawks (12-12, 5-4 WAC) their 12th win of the season, fifth in Western Athletic Conference play and third road victory.
The Redhawks led for the entirety of the first half, opening the game with a three from Jordan Dallas, followed by a Means 15-foot jumper. Brown would get going midway through and a pair of Mattia Da Campo free throws gave Seattle U its first double-digit lead, 29-18 with 8:44 to play in the first.
UVU would chip away and bring the game to within a possession twice late in the frame. But, following a cold spell, Delante Jones and Da Campo came up with big threes to keep the Wolverines at bay and give Seattle U a 40-36 lead at the break.
Momentum shifted quickly in the second, however, as Emmanuel Olojakpoke opened the frame with two free throws and Brandon Averette followed with a three to give UVU its first lead of the night, 41-40.
The Redhawks would swipe the lead back on five straight points from Brown, but another Wolverine spurt would give the home team the lead right back. Sixteen second-half points in transition helped UVU open up a 68-61 advantage with 8:14 to play in the second.
Da Campo, Myles Carter and Brown combined for six straight points to pull Seattle U within one. The Redhawks would stay within two possessions as they inched closer down the stretch.
A Riley Grigsby dunk and two Brown free throws knotted the score at 77-77 just inside two minutes to play. Olojakpoke briefly gave the Wolverines the lead back, but Means scored off an Averette turnover with 53 seconds left and UVU missed four shot attempts in the final 30 seconds, sending the game into overtime.
Utah Valley went up four to open the extra frame, but Brown and Girgsby responded with back-to-back buckets. Fouled while hauling in a defensive rebounds, Carter sank two free throws to make it 85-83 Seattle U with 1:10 to play.
Avarette tied the game for the seventh time with nine ticks to go before Means went the length of the court for the game-winner and Brown came up with the steal on the final inbounds.
"Utah Valley played hard, they deserved to win. We played hard, we deserved to win," said Head Coach Jim Hayford. "We were just a little bit luckier tonight. And Morgan did exactly what we wanted him to do in that situation at the end."
Brown finished the night with a game-high 28 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists. Means added 19 points and six assists while Grigsby and Da Campo added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Carter came off the bench to chip in six points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
The Redhawks remain on the road next week, finishing out a three-game WAC road swing at New Mexico State and UTRGV. Tip off on Thursday, Feb. 13 in Las Cruces, N.M., is set for 7 p.m. local, 6 p.m. Pacific.
The Wolverines (9-16, 3-6 WAC) attempted a Hail Mary full court pass that was picked off by Terrell Brown and handed the Redhawks (12-12, 5-4 WAC) their 12th win of the season, fifth in Western Athletic Conference play and third road victory.
The Redhawks led for the entirety of the first half, opening the game with a three from Jordan Dallas, followed by a Means 15-foot jumper. Brown would get going midway through and a pair of Mattia Da Campo free throws gave Seattle U its first double-digit lead, 29-18 with 8:44 to play in the first.
UVU would chip away and bring the game to within a possession twice late in the frame. But, following a cold spell, Delante Jones and Da Campo came up with big threes to keep the Wolverines at bay and give Seattle U a 40-36 lead at the break.
Momentum shifted quickly in the second, however, as Emmanuel Olojakpoke opened the frame with two free throws and Brandon Averette followed with a three to give UVU its first lead of the night, 41-40.
The Redhawks would swipe the lead back on five straight points from Brown, but another Wolverine spurt would give the home team the lead right back. Sixteen second-half points in transition helped UVU open up a 68-61 advantage with 8:14 to play in the second.
Da Campo, Myles Carter and Brown combined for six straight points to pull Seattle U within one. The Redhawks would stay within two possessions as they inched closer down the stretch.
A Riley Grigsby dunk and two Brown free throws knotted the score at 77-77 just inside two minutes to play. Olojakpoke briefly gave the Wolverines the lead back, but Means scored off an Averette turnover with 53 seconds left and UVU missed four shot attempts in the final 30 seconds, sending the game into overtime.
Utah Valley went up four to open the extra frame, but Brown and Girgsby responded with back-to-back buckets. Fouled while hauling in a defensive rebounds, Carter sank two free throws to make it 85-83 Seattle U with 1:10 to play.
Avarette tied the game for the seventh time with nine ticks to go before Means went the length of the court for the game-winner and Brown came up with the steal on the final inbounds.
"Utah Valley played hard, they deserved to win. We played hard, we deserved to win," said Head Coach Jim Hayford. "We were just a little bit luckier tonight. And Morgan did exactly what we wanted him to do in that situation at the end."
Brown finished the night with a game-high 28 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists. Means added 19 points and six assists while Grigsby and Da Campo added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Carter came off the bench to chip in six points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
The Redhawks remain on the road next week, finishing out a three-game WAC road swing at New Mexico State and UTRGV. Tip off on Thursday, Feb. 13 in Las Cruces, N.M., is set for 7 p.m. local, 6 p.m. Pacific.