The Lakeland men's basketball team played host to the Niagara Thunderwolves tonight and came away with a thrilling 80-74 overtime victory. With the win, Lakeland's record improves to 11-5 (5-1 in OCCAC). The Lakers took control of the game early in the 1st half. The shooting of Marlon Landingham, Jadallah Suleiman, and Chauncey Brashers allowed the Lakers to take a 15-11 lead to start the game. The teams would exchange baskets over the next several minutes in this high energy game. With under 5 minutes to play, Alikai Creque would score on an offensive rebound to expand the Lakers lead to 36-29. The teams would then trade baskets before Lakeland went cold and Niagara started sinking 3-pointers. With 1:15 to play in the half, Niagara would connect on 3 consecutive 3-pointers to take a 40-38 lead. On Lakeland's next possession Jadallah Suleiman would drain a 3-pointer to put the Lakers back up 41-40. Following a Niagara miss, Juwan Turner would hit an 8-foot baseline jumper as time expired to put the Lakers up 43-40 going into the break.
Lakeland's 2nd half started with a Marlon Landingham 3-pointer that pushed the Laker lead to 46-40. The Lakers would then go into a cold spell as Niagara scored the next 10 points to go up 50-46. The teams would trade baskets over the next several minutes until Isaiah McAdams fed Chauncey Brashers in the corner for a 3-pointer to tie the game at 56 with 8:15 to play. The Thunderwolves would score the next 5 points before Brashers recorded an old-fashioned 3-point play - making the free throw after being fouled on a made layup. After a Niagara tech was called, Landingham would make 2 free throws to tie the score at 61. Following another Niagara 3 pointer, Amarion Glenn would make a layup. After a McAdams steal, Juwan Turner was fouled and connected on 1-2 free throws to tie the score at 64. Niagara would score the next 4 points before Turner hit a 3-pointer frm the corner. Niagara would then miss on their next possession and Isaiah McAdams would get fouled and sink both free throws to put Lakeland up 69-68 with 56 seconds to play. The Thunderwolves wasted no time as they came down and hit another 3-pointer for a 71-69 lead with 33.4 seconds to play. Lakeland then worked the ball for a good shot, but unfortunately missed. Isaiah McAdams battled on the offensive glass though and forced a jump ball. It was Lakeland's turn on the possession arrow and so they had another chance with 6.1 seconds to play. On the Lakers last play in regulation, they took the shot and again missed. McAdams crashed the boards hard and tried to tip the rebound in, but missed. Micah Blackmon also crashed hard and grabbed the rebound and shot while still in the air. Blackmon scored the game tying basket with under a second to play to force overtime.
In overtime, both teams missed shots within the first minute of play. To start the scoring, Isaiah McAdams would block a Niagara shot and then feed a streaking Jadallah Suleiman for a 73-71 Laker lead. On Niagara's next possession, Juwan Turner would steal the ball and hit a releasing Micah Blackmon who scored a layup. Niagara would then hit 1-2 free throws to make the score 75-72. On the Lakers next possession, Blackmon was fed the ball inside. As the defense collapsed on him, he smartly kicked the ball to Marlon Landingham who sank a 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 78-72 lead. Following a Niagara miss, Landingham would score on a driving layup to put the Lakers up 80-72 with under 2 minutes to play. From there, the Lakers sailed to the victory.
Lakeland had a balanced scoring attack as 4 players finished with double digits. Marlon Landingham was Lakeland's leading scorer with 22 points on four 3-pointers. Alikai Creque had a dominating effort on the boards tonight and finished with 16 points while Jadallah Suleiman continued his solid play and finished with 14 points. Chauncey Brashers connected on three 3-pointers and finished with 12 points while both Juwan Turner and Micah Blackmon added 6 points for the Lakers. Isaiah McAdams had a strong overall game while adding 4 points as Amarion Glenn also played a key role and added a bucket in the win.
Coach T's Talk: "It was good to see some growth tonight. In the fall semester, we lost 4 games by a point. Tonight, though we didn't play our best game, we continued to battle and found a way to win. Credit Niagara as they played hard - but also credit to our team for continuing to work throughout. We have to keep growing from this - quick turnaround as we're back into league play on Wednesday."
Next Up: On Wednesday (1/14), the Lakers will travel to Ursuline College to play the Bryant & Stratton Bobcats in OCCAC action. Tip off is scheduled for 8:00 pm.
