Blackburn Men's Basketball Wins Season Opener In Overtime

Blackburn Men's Basketball Wins Season Opener In Overtime

The Blackburn College Men's Basketball Team was victorious in overtime in their season opener against St. Louis College of Pharmacy, 123-118, on Thursday night in Carlinville, IL. The night featured plenty of offense from both teams, however not much defense, as the 123 points the Beavers scored is the most point scored by the Beavers since they scored 124 in a game two years ago.  Both teams shot over 50% from the field and over 30% from behind the arc. The game had ten lead changes with Blackburn holding the highest lead of the night, which was ten points in the second half with 10:09 left on the game clock. 

The first half was back and forth with seven lead changes, with each team shooting over 54% from the floor. Blackburn led at the half 55-50. The second half was very similar to the first. Blackburn went on a 13-3 run halfway through the second half to give them a ten-point lead.  The Beavers held that lead until the final seconds of the contest, when Freshman Guard RJ Wright for St. Louis College of Pharmacy hit a clutch three-pointer from the corner, just as time expired, sending the game into overtime. In overtime, Blackburn grabbed a quick lead with a three-pointer from Raushaun Amos. The Eutectics quickly answered, with RJ Wright hitting another clutch three-pointer. Wright then gave the Euctectics their first lead since the first half at 116-114. That was the last lead they saw, as Karson Hayes hit multiple free-throws and finished with six points in overtime to give Blackburn the win.

Blackburn had six players in double figures, led by guard Karson Hayes with 32 points. Hayes was 10 for 20 shooting from the field, and 8 for 9 from the free throw line. Transfer guard Raushaun Amos was a spark off the bench, with 22 points, as well as 72% shooting. From the floor Amos was 8-11, including 4-5 from behind the three point line.  Senior guard Duncan King had a solid game, scoring 16 points, including 5-7 from the floor.

St. Louis College of Pharmacy was led by two freshmen guards RJ Wright and Darius Dorsey. Wright had a double-double and a game high 38 points, shooting 18-27 from the floor. Wright also had ten rebounds. Dorsey had 35 points, shooting 14-24 from the floor, and 4-9 on three pointers. He also contributed to his team with four assists. Devon Howard had a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

With this game, Blackburn is now 1-0 overall. Their next game will be an exhibition match at Missouri S&T, that will take place on November 10th, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., in Rolla, Missouri.