It was a big game and everyone in the Founders Hall Gym knew it!
And it felt like the Golden Eagles were playing under a huge microscope, having lost the recruiting war with Westminster College for three of their prized freshman players. After all, the NCAA DIII, Titans won 17 games last season and lost in the semifinals of the Presidents Athletic Conference Championship.
The Titans were also coming off a sore loss to Miami Hamilton in Wednesday's opening session of the Golden Eagles Christmas Classic, so without a doubt they had the Eagles fixed squarely in their sights. Although KSU Tusc took flight early, they fell behind at halftime only to rise like a phoenix from a double-digit deficit to score a 93-87 victory and finish 2-0 in the showcase.
The victory sent the Eagles into a short Christmas break with a huge boost of confidence and a 9-4 record neatly stuffed in their stockings.
Yes, the Eagles took an early 8-2 lead. Yes, the Eagles worked themselves into an eight-point, 24-16 lead on the wings of a 9-0 run capped by a Vinnie Roper drive to the basket with 8:03 left in the opening half. And yes, they played through an exhausting 11 lead changes and three first half ties only to find themselves trailing 43-35 at the break.
The Titans did it to them courtesy of an 11-1 run over the last two minutes of the half.
No one could have scripted how well they would respond after falling behind 49-37 with just over 17 minutes left to play in the game. But would it be enough time?
A mini run trimmed the lead to 49-42 with London Cobbs spinning free in the lane for two baskets. The Titans tossed in a couple of free throws for a 51-42 lead at the 15:50 mark, but the Eagles swooped back in as Kyle Shockley drove the right side of the lane for a hoop. He then stole the ball on the right wing and flipped a pass to Cobbs who cut the lead to 51-47 as Founders Hall Gym heated up.
ZaMar Harris added a bucket on a dribble drive from the left side and Kyle Shockley canned a three-ball from the right wing, as the Eagles had made it all the way back with a 12-0 run to take a 52-51 lead. Seconds later, Harris came up with a steal and fired ahead to DeJuan Lawrence, who dunked it home for a 54-51 lead.
But Westminster was not about to give the Eagles a chance to resurrect Howard Cosell's infamous line from the Foreman/Frazier Sunshine Showdown, and promptly sunk a triple to knot the game at 54-54 with 12:32 showing.
Then a beautiful thing happened.
The Eagles put together an exquisite 12 minutes of basketball down the stretch after they grabbed a 56-54 lead on a Kameron Shockley 15-foot jumper at 12:18. They served notice with an 8-0 spurt that weighed on the Titans like a lump of coal taking a 62-54 lead. A huge triple from Ethan Bower and a Harris steal and dash to the hoop using his body to shield off a much taller defender spirited them along.
Each time it seemed Westminster was going to gain some traction, the Eagles responded and never let the Titans get closer than four points. They got huge answers from Lawrence who calmly sank two free throws for a 73-64 lead with 6:25 left after a hard foul on a dunk attempt that sent him sprawling into the wall under the basket. Lawrence also two-handed-jammed home a teammate's missed layup at the 4:45 mark. Later he was denied a lane to the basket while heading for another dunk, so he altered course and laid in a reverse layup with 2:13 showing to play. His moves not only electrified the crowd, but also showed a little moxie from the gentle giant.
Over the final 1:34 the Titans were forced to foul. Despite five different KSU Tusc players being fouled, the Eagles final punch was sinking 13/14 free freebies as you could almost hear the echoes of "Down goes Frazier". It was a big game indeed!
The Golden Eagles defense make 14 steals and forced Westminster into 27 turnovers, outscoring them 25-8 off of miscues.
For their efforts, Cobbs, Lawrence and Kameron Shockley were named as Christmas Classic All-Stars.
Cobbs led the Eagles with 23 points and scored 12 of them in the final half, he also cleared nine boards. Kameron Shockley was right behind with 20 points and sank 13/16 free throws. Kyle Shockley was next with 16 points, Lawrence scored 11 second half points and finished with 14 and 10 rebounds for a fifth straight double-double, while Ethan Bower came off the bench to score 11 points with two triples and eight second half points.
The Eagles will return to action on Wednesday, December 28 at 1 pm when they host Ohio Christian University. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Kameron Shockley gets to the hoop against Westminster.
Kyle Shockley loses his dribble after being fouled and London Cobbs get tied up.
DeJuan Lawrence battles for rebound position and recorded his fifth straight double-double on the season.
(Photos by Patty Tolloti)