MOBILE, Ala. – Spring Hill College rallied in the final minutes but was unable to complete its bid to knock off LeMoyne-Owen College in a 79-78 loss Monday night in the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.
Spring Hill trailed for nearly 37 minutes of action before taking the lead twice in the final three minutes.
Quinn Sutton's only basket of the night made it a one-point game, 19-18 with 9:33 to play in the first half.
Brandon Fischer blocked a shot on the other end to set up a Greysn Rogers' 3-point attempt for the lead, but the missed shot was rebounded by the Magic's Jerry Hurt. Tory Mason laid it on the other side to keep LeMoyne-Owen in front. It was the start of a six-point run for the Magic to create a cushion.
With less than six minutes to play in the half,
Andrew Dotson and
Jeffery Pharr scored on back-to-back possessions to tie the game, 25-25, with 5:15 to play, but the Magic responded with another six-point run and closed the half with a 38-32 lead.
Ryan Little hit a 3 to even the score, 46-46, with 15:15 to play, but it was not until a
Justin Allison 3-pointer with 3:03 to play that Spring Hill took its first lead of the night, 72-71. Tyrone Banks hit a pair of free throws to put the Magic back in front, followed by a Jaquan Lawrence dunk after a Badger turnover to put LeMoyne-Owen in front 75-72.
Spring Hill fought to regain the lead, 78-77, with 38 seconds to play on a
David Daniels layup after Daniels grabbed the board off a missed LeMoyne-Owen 3-pointer. The Magic and Badgers traded turnovers after Daniels' basket, giving the ball back to the visiting team with 22 seconds to play. Banks pushed the Magic back in front, 79-78, with nine seconds to play and
Brandon Fischer missed a layup with a second to play to decide the game.
Fischer led Spring Hill with 24 points, followed by Allison's 13 points and five assists and a double-double 11 points and 11 rebounds by Daniels.
Hurt led LeMoyne-Owen with 26 points and nine rebounds, while Banks scored 21 and Devin Booker added 10.
Spring Hill (5-11, 1-6 SIAC) will travel to Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio on Saturday for a 3 p.m. ET tipoff, followed by a trip to Kentucky State University on Monday.
