Saints Men Secure Thrilling Double-Overtime Win Over North American to Remain Undefeated

STAFFORD, TEXAS (Dec. 4, 2024) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) men's basketball team thrilled fans with a double overtime win over North American University (NAU) 99-93. The Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) matchup keeps the Saints undefeated at 10-0 and 6-0 in the conference, while the Stallions improve to 4-6 overall and 1-5 in conference.

Head Coach Marcus Thompson emphasized the team's unity, stating, "This was another resilient win for this group! I am proud of the way we continue to fight. It was not our best brand of basketball over the course of 40 minutes, but finding ways to win speaks to the character of this group. We must continue to stay together and focus on winning basketball as a team."

History

The Saints are 5-1 against NAU. Last season, the Saints won the first game 76-62 and lost the second one 86-78.

Basics

The Saints took a 4-0 lead to open the game. A three from Lonzo Rand put the Saints at 7-3, and the Saints continued to make key shots to dominate the Stallions. At the 14th minute, NAU took over the lead at 14-13. The score jumped back and forth, with each team taking turns leading. The Saints started slipping behind at the 10-minute mark, 21-29. A three from Rob Gil sparked the Saints offense, but the Stallions continued to battle, taking an 11-point lead with less than two minutes remaining in the half. Time ran out, giving the Stallions the 44-35 halftime lead.

The Saints remained behind through the 16th minute of the second half when a layup from Arthur Celestin tied the score at 49. The back-and-forth continued as both teams battled aggressively. The score stayed within one point until the Stallions started to pull away again at 67-63. NAU took the biggest lead of the half at 77-68 with one minute remaining. Crucial free throws from Trevon Dennis, Rand, and Breion Powell got the Saints to within three. Rand made a three-pointer with 24 seconds remaining to tie the game at 77, and time ran out to send the game into overtime.

The Saints had momentum in the extra period, taking the 83-79 lead. NAU kept battling, and Caleb Malik tied the game at 86 once again as time ran out.

In the second overtime period, the game remained close. Strategic plays from Gil and Rand kept the Saints a few steps ahead of the Stallions. The score remained at 95-93 for the last minute of the period, and free throws from Kenyon Elliott and Celestin gave the Saints the 97-93 lead. A huge three-point miss from NAU's Malik with 16 seconds remaining and a foul on Celestin sent him to the charity stripe to seal the 99-93 win.

Offensive/defensive standouts

Lonzo Rand led the Saints with 25 points and six assists, showcasing his scoring and playmaking abilities. Rob Gil scored 19 points and added seven rebounds and eight assists, demonstrating his versatility on both ends of the court. Arthur Celestin contributed 16 points, and Breion Powell added 14, with each player making significant contributions to the team's victory.

NAU's Damione Thomas led the team with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Inside the box

OLLU combined for 33-of-64 shooting for 50.0 percent, 11-of-26 from three-point range for 42.3 percent, and 24-of-31 from the free-throw line for 77.4 percent. NAU shot 30-of-68 for 44.1 percent, 9-of-25 three-pointers for 36.0 percent, and 24-of-29 from the free-throw line for 82.8 percent.

The Saints grabbed 33 rebounds, while NAU collected 36. OLLU forced 13 turnovers while committing 18. 

What's next

The Saints will travel to Austin, Texas, on Dec. 7 for a game against Huston-Tillotson University.