SMWC men's basketball led No. 24 Lourdes at halftime by a score of 35-25, but the host Gray Wolves rallied to force overtime, taking the victory 75-72 in OT on Saturday afternoon.
The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference favorites and an NAIA National qualifier in 2022-23 were held to just 38.6 percent shooting by the Pomeroys. The Gray Wolves had averaged 94 points and 55.5 percent shooting during its first two victories to start the season.
SMWC (1-1) got 25 points and seven rebounds from
Cobie Barnes in addition to 13 points, three steals and three assists from
Greg Jenkins.
DaMeriz Merriweather had 11 points and four assists.
SMWC shot 7 of 16 from 3-point range. Barnes hit 3 for 6, while Merriweather and
Lincoln Hale were both 2 for 4.
SMWC got off to a strong start, making an 8-0 run that included a 3-pointer by Hale and a jumper by
Chaz Birchfield to take a 15-6 lead. The Pomeroys' lead grew to as much as 35-19 with 3:51 to go in the first half.
SMWC regained a double-digit lead, 41-30, five minutes into the second half to fight off one small Lourdes run. But the Gray Wolves eventually clawed back. Lourdes grabbed its first lead since the game's opening minutes with 3:14 to go in regulation.
Lourdes took a 61-58 lead with 1:21 to go, but Jenkins connected on a jumper to pull SMWC within 61-60. Jenkins hit a game-tying free throw with six seconds to go to force overtime.
The Pomeroys return to action Friday at Judson University.
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