Blue Raiders Bounces Back Against Wilberforce; Jones Finishes With Career High

COLUMBIA, Ky – The Lindsey Wilson men's basketball team completes the season series sweep against Wilberforce University (Ohio) with a 91-84 overtime victory in a high intensity matchup on Saturday at Biggers Sports Center. LWC improved to 8-14 overall as Welberforce remains winless in conference and drops to 1-21.

A faced paced game from the jump turned out to be a nail-biter for the Blue Raiders as they were able to tame the Bulldog pressure for the win. LWC managed to be the aggressor and dominate the paint with the 53-33 rebounding edge over Wilberforce that helped Lindsey WIlson persevere through 45 total minutes of play.

Five Blue Raiders finished in double figures as senior guard Jamyus Jones led with a career-high of 26 points on 9-18 shooting from the field and 100% from the charity stripe along with five boards. Teshaun Beckles followed up a double-double performance of his own as he ended with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Lucas Ribeiro contributed 13 points as Payton Cundiff finished with 12 along with Rodney Lewis 10 points and team-high six assists.

Wilborforce made it known from the start the type of game they wanted to play with their physical full-court pressure on the Blue Raiders. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 14-4 lead after a 10-0 run with just over five minutes played. A few sloppy possessions from both teams slowed the scoring pace of the game up until the halfway mark of the half. 

Lindsey Wilson started to get things going after ending the scoring drought and going on a 9-0 run to bring them within one with 9:40 remaining in the half. From that point on, it was a back and forth physical battle between the two as they tied things up and exchanged leads at a rapid rate. Jones was able to tie the game at 37 under a minute to go in the first but the Bulldogs seized the lead with a strong finish at the rim to go up two at halftime.

The start of the second half looked similar to the beginning of the first as Wilberforce continued its aggressiveness to force Blue Raider turnovers and extended their halftime lead. The Bulldogs forced a total of 27 turnovers in this matchup but returned 21 possessions back over to LWC as well. Wilberfroce's lead jumped up to as much as eight points in the second half before Lindsey Wilson turned things around. 

LWC fought their way back into the game and took the 61-59 lead for the first time since the first half after a Conner Robinson finish with 8:23 to go. The Bulldogs did not let up so easily as they regained the lead and controlled pace down the final stretch of regulation. After being down for the majority of the half, Robeiro tied the game with 10 seconds remaining at 74 on a fast break finish from Lewis to send the game into overtime.

The Blue Raiders outscored the Bulldogs 17-10 in overtime to cap off the win as Jones was the top scorer with seven points in extra time alone. LWC were able to finish the game off at the free throw line as they converted 75% of them while shooting 14 more than the Bulldogs.

Coach Chris Starks and the Blue Raiders will be back in action on Feb. 4 when they head to Campbellsville, Ky to take on the Tigers at 2 p.m. CT.