ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Bard College men's basketball team lost in overtime, 84-82, to The College of New Jersey in the consolation game of the Chuck Resler Tournament at the University of Rochester on Saturday.
Bard freshman
Alijah Rue was named to the All-Tournament Team.
It was a wild, see-saw battle that came down literally to the final second. Bard (0-2) was down four at halftime, but the Raptors hung in there and put together a 10-0 run that culminated with a layup from Rue to take a 65-56 lead with 4:21 left in the game. The Lions (1-1) roared back, finishing regulation on an 11-2 run to send the game to overtime.
In the five-minute extra session, TCNJ hit three three-pointers, and the Lions were up nine (82-73) with 46 seconds left. But amazingly the Raptors weren't done.
Emmanuel Oyakhilome went coast-to-coast and made a layup to cut the lead to seven with 42 seconds left, and the Raptors started fouling. TCNJ made one of two, and
Justyn Rogers scored to cut the lead to 83-77. Bard pressed and trapped on the inbounds play, got the turnover, and Oyakhilome hit a long three to make it 83-80 with 34 seconds to go.
Bard fouled again, TCNJ made one of two, and Rogers made a long jumper to make it 84-82 with 14 seconds left.
The Lions' Randy Walko (Somerville, NJ) got called for a charge trying to break the trap on the ensuing inbounds play, and Bard got the ball back, down two, with eight seconds left.
Rue missed on a tough drive in the paint, Rogers got the offensive board, and his contested put-back attempt went off the rim and bounced away as time expired.
Niall Carpenter (Westampton, NJ) led all scorers with 29 points for the Lions, while Walko added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Rogers led Bard with 22 points, while Rue added 17 points, five rebounds and three steals. Oyakhilome had career highs with 17 points and 14 rebounds,
David Runcie contributed 10 points, and
Armando Dunn finished with seven points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Up next for Bard is the home opener on Tuesday vs. Hartwick. Tip is at 7.
