MARS HILL, N.C. - Brevard kept its postseason hopes alive with a thrilling 107-104 victory at Mars Hill's Stanford Arena on Thursday night, scoring its second-most points since becoming a full NCAA member prior to the 2008-2009 campaign.
Entering the game needing a win to stay in the hunt for a South Atlantic Tournament bid, the Tornados refused to lose despite trailing for 36:42 of the 55-minute affair. Brevard's win ensures that, with a win at Wingate and a Queens win over Anderson on Saturday, the Tornados will make the postseason for the first time in four years.
The Tornados' offensive output was eclipsed only by a 109 point effort in a win at Lees-McRae on December 8, 2012 and was the fourth time Brevard has reached triple digits in its NCAA era. The Tornados played in a third overtime period for just the second time following a 91-81 win at Erskine on January 18, 2010. Brevard has never lost when it has scored at least 100 points or in a game that sees multiple overtime periods.
Brevard's most crucial play came at the end of the first overtime. Trailing 87-84 with a chance to hold for the final shot, Shaw created space and fired a three-point attempt from 23 feet out at the top of the key. The shot touched nothing but twine, tying the game with 2.3 seconds left to force a second overtime.
The score was deadlocked at 95 after a Michael Carson triple with 1:00 remaining in the second overtime period. Brevard would come away empty on its next trip down the floor. The Lions had a chance to win on the final possession, but a Justin Yeargin triple was off the mark and the teams needed a final five-minute period to settle the outcome.
The game turned on a tough break for Mars Hill with 42.8 seconds on the clock and Brevard leading 105-104. Shaw, who led Brevard with 29 points, missed a floater in the lane and Mars Hill's Thomas Anderson grabbed the rebound. Anderson tried to call a timeout as he landed, but time was not granted and part of his foot fell on the baseline. He was called for a turnover, then a technical foul as he voiced his displeasure with the officials. Phil Wallace, Brevard's NCAA-era leader in free throw percentage, drained both shots from the charity stripe to push Brevard's advantage to three.
The Tornados attempted to run as much clock as possible, but Shaw was whistled for an offensive foul as he tried to shake off a Lions' defender, giving Mars Hill a final chance to force a fourth overtime period. Carson misfired on a three-point attempt but the ball was touched by Brevard to give Mars Hill a final attempt to tie the game. Yeargin took the inbounds pass and dribbled twice to his left, forcing up a shot that Phil Wallace partially deflected to give Brevard the thrilling win.
Brevard set program NCAA-era records with 38 field goals and 86 attempts, the second-most shots attempted by any conference team this season. The Tornados also turned the ball over just nine times and allowed Mars Hill to come away with a single steal in 55 minutes of play.
The Tornados had four players score at least 20 points, highlighted by Shaw's 29 and a season-high 21 from Leathers. Wallace and Darius Moose chipped in 20 apiece. Mars Hill was led by a season-high 37 points from Carson. Mars Hill had 22 assists on 32 made field goals, led by eight from Anderson and six from Valentine Bauer.
Brevard outshone Mars Hill 40-28 in the paint and scored 22 points off Mars Hill turnovers while the Lions managed eight. The Tornados' reserves were key to the victory, bolstering the team with 34 points.
The Tornados overcame a hot start for Mars Hill as the hosts knocked down 13 of their first 16 shots and led by 11 points 14 minutes into the game. Isaiah Cuthbertson, who finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, teamed with Carson to account for 30 first-half points. Brevard only led for 10:57 and saw its largest lead of four points come midway through the third overtime period.
Brevard travels to Wingate for the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon with its postseason fate hanging in the balance. Tipoff is slated for 4:00 p.m.
