CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Brandon Berry knocked down a pair of free throws with 11 seconds remaining in the second overtime to help Washington College clinch a 91-90 victory over Gettysburg College in Centennial Conference action Saturday afternoon.
Gettysburg (2-4, 2-1 CC) suffered its first conference loss, while Washington (3-2, 1-1 CC) secured its first win over the Bullets since 2013. Senior Cody Kiefer (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) posted a strong line with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists while playing all but one minute in the game. Senior Pete Christ (Pittstown, N.J./Delaware Valley Regional) tallied 18 points and seven rebounds, while classmate Tanner Kirkpatrick (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) picked up 17 points and seven boards.
Washington featured five double-figure scorers led by Joey Shelton and James Drury with 17 points apiece. Nick Schmelzer canned five three-pointers on the way to 16 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Tas Dixon and Berry finished with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Shoremen controlled the early going with Drury knocking down a three-pointer to give his team a 13-4 advantage five minutes into the contest. The Bullets steadily chipped away at the lead behind Kiefer, who recorded 12 points in the first half. He knocked down a three-pointer to kick off a seven-point spurt and give Gettysburg its first lead at 32-29 with 3:14 remaining in the first half.
Washington regained the advantage with lay-ups by Dixon and Austin Allen to jump in front 42-39 heading into the break.
The two foes traded blows throughout the second half with the lead changing hands seven times in the final 10 minutes of play. Sophomore Alec Warren (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) knocked down a three-pointer and Kiefer converted an old-fashioned three-point play to seize a 58-53 lead, but the Shoremen came right back with an eight-point run to regain the upper-hand.
With the hosts leading 68-67 heading into the final minute, Kiefer found Kirkpatrick all alone under the hoop for a lay-in. The senior forward drew a foul on the play and sank the ensuing free throw to put Gettysburg ahead 70-68 with 47 seconds left.
On Washington's next possession, Shelton drove to the bucket and drew a foul while making a lay-up to tie the game. He missed the free throw, however, and both teams missed on their final attempts to send the game to overtime.
Trailing 77-76 in the first extra period, Dixon looked to hand his team the victory by driving to the hoop and putting in a lay-up with 27 seconds left. On the other end, freshman Danny Duffey (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland) got his defender in the air and drew the contact to head to the line for a pair of free throws with six seconds left. The Bullet first-year hit both to grab a 79-78 lead.
Dixon drew a foul racing up the court and after missing the first free throw, tied the game with three ticks left. Gettysburg's pass from the baseline was picked off by Austin Allen and his follow-up three-pointer rolled off the rim as time expired.
Gettysburg jumped in front to start the second overtime with a free throw by Christ leading to an 83-82 lead with 2:30 to play. Five-straight points put Washington back in front, but Christ knocked down another big three-pointer to keep the Bullets in the game with 32 seconds to go.
Kiefer answered a pair of free throws by Dixon with a lay-up to keep Gettysburg within one at 89-88 with 11 seconds to go. Berry knocked down two more attempts from the line and Warren was unable to draw contact on his last-second lay-up as time expired.
Gettysburg shot 51.7 percent (31-of-60) from the floor, but finished just 5-of-22 (22.7 percent) from beyond the arc. The Bullets held a 43-33 advantage on the glass. Washington hit 43.7 percent (31-of-71) of its attempts, including 10 three-pointers.
Gettysburg visits Dickinson College on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 8 p.m.