Baltimore, MD – Bluefield State University men's basketball took down the reigning CIAA champs Winston-Salem State, 67-66 in overtime.
After trading opening buckets, the Rams scored seven consecutive points to take the 9-2. A three and a jumper from Chase Page tied it up at 16 with 9:08 left in the first. The Rams went on a 10-0 run to take the 28-18 lead at the 4:13 mark. A layup from Ja'Mere Redus at the buzzer cut the Rams lead to five going into halftime.
Back-to-back jumpers from Travon Cooper and a three from Page pulled the Big Blue ahead 40-38. Later in the half, the Big Blue scored eight consecutive points to take the 57-50 lead with 3:46 left in the second. With 26 left, a Rams layup gave them the two-point lead but a trip to the line for Nduka Ogwu tied it up at 61 to force overtime.
Two free throws from Jordan Hinds gave the Big Blue the 63-61 lead, but a layup and a free throw from the Rams gave them the one-point lead. Redus drove to the basket to for two but the Rams answered with a layup of their own with a minute left in the overtime period. Redus second bucket of overtime gave the Big Blue the one-point lead with 49 seconds left on the clock. Out of a timeout with 16 seconds left to play, a block from Ogwu sealed the 67-66 victory for the Big Blue.
Redus was named Food Lion MVP of the game scoring 15 points, four of those in the overtime period, five assists and three rebounds. Hinds led the Big Blue with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Ogwu secured the double-double with 15 points, ten rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Both Page and Cooper came away with ten points apiece.
Up Next
The Big Blue will take on 2N Virginia Union tomorrow, February 29th at 8 p.m.
