For the second time in as many days, the Golden Eagles faced an undefeated opponent on the road and came up one point short of pulling off a statement win. Defiance erased a big Eagles lead and upended KSU Tusc, 83-82, in the Connor Classic held on the campus of Thomas More University in northern Kentucky.
It was a game that the Eagles owned until the last 2:32 and one in which they flew at high altitude leading by 14 points at halftime. They netted 10 straight points to close out the opening half getting a Jacob Hicks tip-in, a layup by RaShawn Robinson and twin three pointers by Malik Campbell and Gunnar Tharp to build a cozy 46-32 nest at halftime.
In the first half, the Eagles preyed on the Yellow Jackets and clawed back after two Purple and Gold eight point runs, by making 56% (10/18) of their three-point shots. Mike Huberty came off the bench to score 11 points on perfect 4/4 shooting and was 3/3 from behind the arc. Tharp also scored 11 making 3 triples and Campbell added nine making 3/3 shots from long distance.
Defiance scored the first four points to open the second half, but KSU Tusc continued to hold them at bay with some timely shooting and continued success from behind the bonus line. The Eagles knocked down three triples in the first five minutes of the final half and clung to a 12-point lead (68-56) after a Huberty two-point field goal at the 10:01 mark.
Then time stood still. It appeared as if the Golden Eagles were gliding on the winds aloft and Defiance swarmed them with a 13-3 surge and trailed just 71-69.
Over the course of the remaining 6:57, the Eagles three-point wings could not raise them up as they could only convert on 1/5 attempts. They managed to trade baskets with the Jackets and held a 77-72 lead at the 4:30 mark, when two missed longballs and a split pair of free throws opened the door for Defiance who tied the game at 77-77.
A Huberty layup spotted KSU to a 79-77 lead with 2:48 left. A Yellow Jackets tip-in and a missed Eagles triple led to a Defiance fast break layup, as they grabbed their first lead of the day 81-79. With the score 82-80 and :22 seconds left, the Eagles instituted a half court press and forced a Defiance sideline throw-in.
Andre Leavell out-leapt a Defiance player on the ensuing inbounds pass toward the Jackets rim, gathered himself and drove the length of the court and was fouled on the way to the basket. With :09 left, he calmly sank both ends of a one-and-one to tie the game 82-82. Defiance inbounded the ball as the Eagles pressured the ball in the backcourt, but the clock failed to start. The officials reset the clock to :08, but it seemed like more time had run off the clock.
Defiance inbounded again and drove wildly to the hoop where a questionable defensive foul was called on the KSU. The free thrower made the first toss for an 83-82 lead with 1.6 to go and intentionally missed the second, which was tapped out of bounds by another Jackets player. After several timeouts, the Eagles inbounds attempt with 0.9 left was knocked across the court by a Defiance player as the final buzzer sounded.
Campbell led the Eagles with 24 points. He was also the team's leading rebounder with eight and dished out six assists. Huberty added 17 points off the bench making 3/5 three-point field goals and was a perfect 4/4 from the free throw line. Tharp also had 17 points and was joined in double figures by Leavell with 10.
For the afternoon the Eagles made 52% of their field goal attempts, making 14/31 three-point shots for 45%. They were also 12/16 from the free throw line for 75%.
With the win Defiance improved to 5-0 in the season, while the Eagles fall to 2-5 suffering their third loss in the their last four games by a total of eight points.
KSU Tusc hosts Cincinnati Clermont College on Saturday, November 30th in a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.
Mike Huberty scored 17 points against Defiance.