Box Score AVE MARIA, FL– In a night where the Fire needed some help from some unexpected sources, they got it in Caleb Konieczny, Larry Taylor, and Xavier Burrow. Southeastern was able to fend off Ave Maria in a double overtime thriller, 68-63.
It looked as if the Fire were going to put the game away with 40 seconds remaining in the game when Konieczny hit a 3-pointer to put the Fire ahead 50-46. But a game-tying basket from Jelani Bonner with two seconds to go made it a 51-51 game and forced the first overtime.
In the first overtime period, no one scored for the first 2:21 until Brandon Dean of the Gyrene's hit a 3-pointer to put AMU ahead by three. Then 21 seconds later on the ensuing possession, Konieczny struck back with another 3-pointer of his own to tie the game. With 31 seconds to go, Bonner hit another basket to put the Gyrene's up by two.
The most clutch play came with 6 seconds left. With the Gyrene's having the ball on an inbound throw-in, Taylor was able to scramble for a loose ball and draw a foul. With the game on the line, Taylor hit both free throws to tie the game at 56 and force a second overtime.
The two teams went back and forth for the first couple minutes; with 3:27 left in the second overtime period, Konieczny hit yet another 3-pointer to tie the game–the eighth tie of the game.
A Bonner shot in the paint put the Gyrene's up by two, but the Fire answered with a quick strike 3-pointer from Xavier Burrow with 1:17 remaining to give the Fire a 64-63 lead. The Fire were able to hold onto the lead for the remainder of the game and put the game out of reach with free throws.
The Fire (9-5, 3-2 TSC) were without starters Andre' Winston and Dana Thomas who sat out with minor injuries. Even without two of their most consistent players, Southeastern was able to make up for the absences with four players scoring in double digits.
Konieczny, Taylor, Tim Mitchell, and Xavier Burrow all stepped up with excellent performances. Konieczny turned in his best scoring effort of the season; he finished with a season high 20 points on 50% shooting. Taylor also had his season-best game of the year, scoring 16 points and bringing down 8 rebounds. As for Mitchell, he turned in his eighth double-double of the season. He scored 16 points and brought down 14 rebounds. Freshman Xavier Burrow also played a solid game as he put 10 points in the net.
It was a close game from the opening tipoff. Southeastern finished with a 44% FG shooting percentage compared to the 43% FG shooting from Ave Maria. The Fire won the battle of the boards, but only by four as SEU came up with 28 rebounds to AMU's 24. But the one thing that kept the Fire in the game was the free throw shooting. Southeastern shot 94% from the free throw line, only missing one shot.
Sun Conference action resumes Saturday afternoon, as the Fire will host the rival Nighthawks of Thomas University. Tipoff is scheduled for 4pm in The Furnace.
