WILMINGTON, OHIO – The Mount St. Joseph University men's basketball team defeated Wilmington College on the road in overtime, 79-77.
The Lions led for most of the first half, shooting nearly 50% from the floor. Michael Loftis led the Mount with 10 first-half points, going 5-for-9 from the floor. Loftis made a layup with 17 seconds left in the first half to give the Lions their largest lead of the game at seven and help them go into halftime up 31-24.
Wilmington came out hot in the second half, taking their largest lead of the game at nine with 11:15 remaining. The Mount would gradually chip away at the Quakers' lead for the rest of the half. At the 3:00 mark, Braden Miller hit a three-pointer to give the Lions a 1-point lead. The Mount and Wilmington would proceed to trade the lead several times. Miller hit a free throw to put the Lions up by two, but the Quakers made a jumper at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime tied at 67-67.
In overtime, Wilmington held the lead for most of the five-minute period. With 1:27 to play, Matthew Menninger hit a three-pointer to give the Mount a 1-point lead. The Quakers responded with free throws to regain the lead, but Menninger hit a jumper in the paint to retake the lead for the Lions. The Mount would not surrender the lead after Menninger's basket and went on to win 79-77. Menninger scored the final nine points for the Lions in overtime, while Jason Lavender scored the first four.
The Mount was led by Michael Loftis and Jason Lavender, who each scored 14 points. Matthew Menninger added 12 points, including nine in overtime, and Joe Brand and Braden Miller contributed 10 points each. Lavender was one rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with nine, while Cooper Ollis and Jay Bilton each added six.
UP NEXT: The Lions will travel to Bluffton, Ohio, on Wednesday, December 3, to take on Bluffton University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
