Cyclones Win 82-76 In Overtime Thriller

Game Leaders

Clarks Summit
Pts: Peterson, Luke - 25
Reb: Peterson, Luke - 10
Ast: Howard, Stephen - 6
Centenary (N.J.)
Pts: Andy Charles - 22
Reb: Warren Murphy - 8
Ast: Warren Murphy - 9

Team Stats

Clarks Summit
Centenary (N.J.)

Field Goals

(29-55)
(26-69)

Field Goal %

52.7%
37.7%

Rebounds

39
35

Assists

18
19

Turnovers

22
12

Pts off Turnovers

10
29

2nd Chance Pts

9
9

Pts in the Paint

30
26

Fastbreak Pts

2
4

Bench Pts

28
13
full stats
More news about: Centenary (N.J.)
Jan 16, 2012

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (January 16, 2012) – With the help of a buzzer beating layup by junior Warren Murphy (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) the Cyclones were able to take down the Baptist Bible College Defenders in a 82-76 overtime thriller.

The Cyclones jumped out early when junior Max Hughes (Nazareth, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) knocked down a three in the first minute of play to put Centenary ahead 3-0. Centenary continued their offense behind another Hughes three-pointer as they went on a 14-4 run early on in the game to go ahead 17-4.

With just over 12 minutes left in the first half and the Cyclones up 25-7, the Defenders battled back with 13 unanswered points of their own to bring the game within five just under the eight minute mark.

The Cyclones took advantage of the turnover in the first half, scoring 15 points off the 12 Defender turnovers to take a 37-29 lead going into the locker room.

Coming out of the half, the Defenders began to battle back as they started the second half on an 8-3 run before the Cyclones returned with eight unanswered points to extend the lead back out to 48-37.

After a Djovan Beausejour (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) bucket from well outside the arc to put the Cyclones up 56-45, the Defenders responded with a ten point unanswered run to bring the game to within one.

Centenary responded immediately with another Hughes three-pointer, but the Defenders came right back with back-to-back layups to tie the game up at 59-59 for the first time all game. With just under five minutes, the Defenders bounced back with their first lead of the game, going ahead 61-59 over the Cyclones.

With the Defenders fighting back, both teams continued to trade baskets to re-tie the game three times in just over a one minute span. With only ten seconds left and the game tied at 63-63, the Cyclones committed a dangerous foul to send Baptist Bible to the line where the Defenders knocked home both free attempts to go ahead 65-63.
Down two with the clock winding down, Murphy drove the length of the court and threw up a tough layup in traffic that dropped in as soon as the horn sounded to tie the game at 65-65 and send the game into a buzzer-beating overtime.
The key to the overtime domination for the Cyclones was the ability to knock down vital free throws as they hit ten consecutive shots in the last two minutes of overtime to give them an 82-76 victory over the Defenders and improve their record to 7-9.

Murphy finished the game with 18 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, and three steals for the Cyclones, but none more meaningful than the buzzer-beater that sent the Cyclones into overtime to take home the win. Sophomore Andy Charles (West Orange, N.J./Montclair) finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds, two assists, six steals, and four blocks for the Cyclones as well.

Centenary looks to return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Scranton, Pa. to take on Marywood University for the second matchup of the season at 8:00pm. The Cyclones took a big 74-52 victory at home over the Pacers in their last meeting at home.