During this week's practice, Golden Eagles Coach Richard Tharp had his troops work on winning more segments of the game than the opposition.
Trailing 63-52, the Eagles responded by dominating the last five minutes of the game, outscoring visiting Terra State 21-7 en route to a 73-70 victory and raised their record to 9-4 on the season.
It was one of those old-fashioned slug fest in the first half that featured 10 lead changes and five ties, with the Titans wrapping up the closing minutes on an 8-0 run to take a 38-31 lead into the halftime break.
A thunderous dunk by the visitors made a huge statement at the start of the final 20 minutes as they increased their lead to 40-31. The Eagles didn't cave however, as they rained all over Terra State for the next five and one-half minutes and claimed a 41-40 lead via a London Cobbs up-and-under shot at the 14:14 mark. JaJuantae Young got things started by converting a basket and free throw, and followed that basket with another after a sweet spin to the basket by DeJuan Lawrence who lofted a soft one-hander thru the net as the Eagles drew close. Kameron Shockley added a free throw before Cobbs' basket as KSU Tusc wrested the lead away and seemed to gain liftoff. Segment one, won!
Terra broke the momentum with a triple to grab a brief lead (43-41), because Cobbs banked home a triple of his own and the Eagles led again (44-43) with 13:31 remaining. Then the updraft left the Eagles wings over the next seven minutes and 47 seconds as the Titans got control with a 20-8 scoring binge. A goal tending call on the Eagles and two Titan triples were the impetus of the separation for a 63-52 Titan advantage with 5:34 left and it seemed like all the Eagles hard work was for naught. Segment two, lost.
The topography of the game just wasn't right and even though Eagles are not known to flock, these birds of Jove collectively honed-in on the basketball. The result, they clawed all the way back to a 63-63 tie feasting on an 11-0 run. A James Roundtree long ball from behind the arc opposite of the Eagles bench deadlocked the game with 2:27 to play. Segment three, won!
With 1:55 left, Cobbs took flight and found his own rarified air and went on to score the Eagles last 10 points of the game. He broke the stalemate with a head down drive to the hoop for a 65-63 KSU Tusc lead---their first since the 13:21 mark. But, Terra State scored their first basket in nearly four minutes on a triple and grabbed a quick 66-65 lead.
Playing like a man possessed, Cobbs drove to the hoop again and squeezed between two Titans defenders for a 67-66 Eagles advantage. Again, Terra State responded. This time by scoring on a reverse lay in off an under-basket inbounds pass to take a 68-67 lead with :48.4 ticks left. Not deterred, Cobbs worked his magic again and went to the well on a driving layup to put the Eagles ahead 69-68, but the Titans answered again to go back on top 70-69 as the game took on a frenetic pace.
With :25.9 seconds left in the game, Cobbs was still up to the challenge and raced past two Titans defenders and avoided another blocking his path, scoring on a double-clutch lay in off the window for a 71-70 lead. The Eagles called a quick timeout.
They applied pressure all over the floor with time winding down, but the Titans managed to a great look at the basket from point blank range. The ball however, bounced on the rim for what seemed like an eternity and fell off. Lawrence tipped to ball out to Cobbs who was fouled with :05.3 seconds left in the game. With the Eagles in the double bonus, Cobbs stepped to the line and sent two no-doubters into the air and through the bottom of the twine for a 73-70 edge.
Full court pressure by the Eagles forced the Titans to throw the ensuing inbounds pass into the right corner and not up the floor. Facing a double-team, the ball handler had to dribble out of trouble to fire a pass into the front court. The long pass and dribbling ate up much of the clock and a desperation three-point heave to tie the game was too long as the resilient Navy and Gold celebration was on. Segment four won. Game won.
Cobbs led five Golden Eagles in double figures with 15 points, Lawrence and Kameron Shockley scored 12 each, while Kyle Shockley added 11 and Young had 10. The trio of Cobbs, Lawrence and Young combined to score 33 of KSU Tusc's 39 second half points.
The Eagles converted on 28/69 shots for 41% making 6/21 from behind the three-point arc and were 55% from the free throw line on 11/20 shooting. They outgunned the Titans in the paint 42-30, blocked seven shots, committed 17 turnovers and were outboarded 39-35.
On Sunday, the Golden Eagles continue their four-game homestand as they host Bryant and Stratton Ohio in a 3:00 p.m. game. Tickets are $5 at the door and KSU Tusc students are admitted free with their student ID.
London Cobbs lines up a shot. JaJuantae Young and DeJuan Lawrence swat away a shot.
Jordan Stevens applies some pressure defense on a Titan dribbler. Photos by Kamryn Butcher