The Brock Badgers men's basketball team snapped a three-game losing skid in style, besting the No. 9 TMU Bold 90-89 in overtime for a thrilling comeback win at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 5.
It was a career night for fifth-year guard Jevon Brown, who notched a career-high 33 points. The Toronto product led the team with six three-pointers, shooting at an impressive 75% clip. Joining Brown with double-digit points were Isaiah Bujdoso and Jordan Tchuente, who had 19 and 13, respectively.
In the first quarter, three consecutive three-pointers from Kevaughn Ellis, Brown and Tchuente helped the Badgers attain a seven-point advantage at 11-7. The Badgers held a lead as large as nine in the frame, but it was the Bold who held a slight three-point lead after ten minutes of play. The visitors used sharp shooting from long distance, going 5-for-7 from the three-point line.
The Badgers looked to emulate the three-point shooting stroke of the Bold as they delivered a sharp 63 per cent from long distance, with Brown hitting a team-high three in the quarter. It was a furious conclusion to the quarter as TMU's lead was whittled down to just three after a Bujdoso three-pointer made it before the buzzer.
Two straight long-distance shots from Brown and Ellis gave the Badgers a 47-44 lead early in the third. The Bold fought back to hold a one-point lead 59-58 after three quarters of play despite the Badgers shooting even better from beyond the arc at 71 per cent.
As the Bold continued to add to the lead at the midway point of the fourth, the Badgers went cold from the field, as they were unable to generate a basket in almost three minutes of play. The Brock squad showed resilience, however, as they continued to whittle down the TMU lead. The Bold held an eight-point advantage with two minutes left in the contest, but strong defence and an energized offence allowed the Badgers to tie the game, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra frame, both teams clearly wanted the victory, with multiple players from each side hitting the floor for any loose ball. The full-court press resulted in lots of defensive pressure, causing four TMU turnovers. Clutch three-pointers from Bujdoso and Tchuenete brought the Badgers back and eventually led to the lead. A steal from Brown and then an immediate drive to the basket resulted in two shots made at the free-throw line and a 90-87 advantage. A late basket from TMU was not enough as the Badgers completed the comeback against the No. 9 team in the country.
Up next, the Badgers (5-5) hit the court tomorrow on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. against the Toronto Varsity Blues (5-5) in Toronto. You can watch the game on OUA.tv.
