Nov. 17, 2008
Box Score
Shepherdstown, WV - The Broncos prevailed against Central State University (Ohio) 94-88 in a three overtime endurance match to win the Clarion Hotel Tip-off Basketball Tournament hosted by Shepherd University Sunday evening inside the Butcher Center.
These two teams matched each other's point total for four consecutive periods. The first half came to a close deadlocked at 35. Fayetteville State was up 69-65 with 19 seconds remaining in the second period. Guard Darryl Brownlee scored his first points of the contest off a three-pointer to draw Central State within one (69-68) with nine seconds left before the end of regulation.
Junior guard De'Shaune Griffin was fouled and sent to the free throw line to shoot two. Griffin would miss the first and make the second to put FSU up 70-68 with four ticks left. Coming out of a timeout, CSU guard Robert Harris drove hard to the basket and tied the game at 70. Harris' lay-up sent the game into the first overtime frame.
Griffin was sent to the free throw line again in the closing seconds of the first overtime. And again, he would miss the first and make the second to put FSU ahead 75-72 with 25 seconds remaining. A near case of déjà vu took place when Brownlee drilled another three-pointer to tie the game at 75 with seven seconds left.
Sophomore guard Ariel Robinson had an opportunity to end it in the first OT, but his 16-foot jumper rimmed out as time expired. The Broncos found themselves up 81-79 with 38 seconds left in the second OT off a jumper by Robinson. However, Brownlee was heroic for the Marauders yet again. This time, the CSU guard would score a lay-up to tie it up at 81. FSU held on for one final possession, but could not score in the remaining 19 seconds and the contest headed towards a third overtime.
FSU never trailed in the third overtime period. Foul trouble eventually took the Marauders top scorers out of the game. Cole Prophet scored a game-high 21 points for Central State; however he would foul out in the third OT. Harris finished with 12 points and four rebounds, but he too would foul out in the third overtime frame.
Nine of the Broncos' 13 points in the third OT were scored at the free throw line. Central State was outscored 13-to-7 in the final period and FSU won the contest 94-88.
Four Broncos finished with double digits in points. Robinson, named tournament MVP, had a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds in the win. Griffin dropped in 18 points, along with eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior guard Darshawn Johnson contributed with 11 points and five boards. Senior forward Malcolm Jay was named to the All-Tournament Team and had the game's only double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds (10 defensive).
Fayetteville State out-rebounded the Marauders 61-to-45 and scored 23 second chance points compared to just four for CSU.
The Broncos improve to 2-0, while Central State drops to 1-1. FSU returns home to host CIAA foe Virginia State University on Tuesday, November 18th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm inside Capel Arena.
