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Jake Simmons scored 24 points as the Bengals held off Capital in overtime. |
Home is where the close wins are, at least for No. 21 Buffalo State and No. 11 Cabrini. The Bengals topped Capital 81-78 in overtime and the Cavaliers rallied to beat Scranton 71-68.
Buffalo State forward Ahmed Nagaya scored to give the Bengals a 68-66 lead over Capital with 38 seconds remaining. Spencer Niekamp answered for the Crusaders with a jumper 15 seconds later to send the game to overtime. The Bengals scored nine of the first 10 points in the extra period to seize the lead and then survived a potential game-tying shot from Capital. Buffalo State improves to 8-1 while Capital drops to 5-5.
Cabrini's long home winning streak was at risk when the Cavaliers trailed Scranton by 13 points in the second half. But Cabrini answered with five three-pointers including one from A.J. Williams with 1:40 left to take the lead. On the ensuing Scranton possession, Tommy Morgan was fouled but missed both free throws. Cabrini guard Corey Lemons ran the shot clock down and nailed a jumper from the top of the key to push the Cavaliers' lead to 71-68. Scranton missed a potential game tying shot and Cabrini extended its home winning streak to 33 games. Lemons finished with 16 points, six assists and four rebounds. Morgan notched 17 points and six assists for the Royals.
Reco Spears hit two free throws with three seconds left to lift Ohio Northern past No. 9 Marietta 59-57. The Polar Bears' bench outscored the Pioneers' reserves 41-10. No. 12 Mary Hardin-Baylor improved to 8-0 with a 84-71 win over Louisiana College behind Marlon Millers' 34 points.
Illinois Wesleyan made certain Washington U. didn't win another Saturday matchup with a CCIW opponent. The Titans defeated the Bears, who beat Wheaton (Ill.) and Augustana the past two weekends. New Jersey City rallied to beat Nazareth 63-60. The Gothic Knights are 9-1 for the sixth time in their 79-year program history.
Mount St. Vincent never trailed against Methodist but the Dolphins needed a Shaquille Cunningham jumper with one second left to beat the Monarchs, 83-81. Alen Michael's free throw with 45 seconds left was the difference as Trinity (Texas) nipped Austin 54-53.