Box Score NORTH MIAMI, Fla.- Andre' Winston gave the Fire overtime, then nearly gave them the win.
Winston pulled up from the right wing for a potential game-winning 3-pointer in overtime, sending it through the net, but releasing it just after the final horn to give the win to Johnson & Wales, 68-66.
Down three with eight seconds to go in regulation, Winston weaved his way through the floor before hitting a 3-pointer from the left wing at the horn to tie the game at 61, and forcing overtime.
Before that, the Fire trailed by seven with 5:23 left, but answered with five straight points to make it a one-possession game with 3:34 left. A put-back basket by Tim Mitchell with 1:54 to go made it a one-point game (59-58). A pair of free throws with eight seconds left gave JWU the lead and set up Winston's tying shot.
In overtime, Caleb Konieczny connected on a 3-pointer with 1:51 to go gave the Fire a 66-63 advantage, but the Wildcats scored the final five points of the game, capitalizing on one of 27 SEU turnovers to tie the game.
"We gave away too many possessions tonight," said Coach R-Jay Barsh. "Credit our guys that finished the game and gave us a chance at the end."
Southeastern committed 15 of those miscues in the first 20 minutes of the contest, yet found a way to lead 32-21 at the intermission. The Fire led by six (12-6) with 13:22 to go in the first, but the Wildcats answered with four straight to take the lead at the 11:30 mark.
The Wildcats went on to build a five-point lead, but it was quickly erased after back-to-back 3-pointers by Xavier Burrow to put SEU up 21-20 with 8:01 left.
Konieczny finished with a game-high 16 points, grabbed four rebounds, and had two steals in just over 40 minutes of play. Winston scored 15 points, had six rebounds, and six assists. Jordan Talley was in double figures as well with 12 points. Mitchell recorded a game-best 17 rebounds, and added nine points, playing over 40 minutes.
DeShawn Wilcox and Matt Crowe played quality minutes defensively at the end of the second half and into overtime.
The Fire return to Sun Conference play on Thursday when they travel to Ave Maria for a 7 p.m. start.
