SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Missouri S&T had arguably their best comeback performance of the season last night, erasing a 68-56 deficit late to force overtime and defeat Malone 85-77.
Cameron Stovall (St. Louis, MO/Vashon) put up a career-high 30 points in the game, scoring 11 points in an essential 22-2 run late in the game.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference first teamer and GMAC All-Tournament MVP Simon Blair took charge of the game early for the Pioneers, utilizing speed and quick ball handling to get to the basket several times for six points in the first five minutes, putting Malone up 11-6 early. The Miners would trail for the first eight and a half minutes of the game, until threes from
Lovell Williams (Rogers, MN/Maple Grove) and
Blaise Beauchamp (Minnetonka, MN/Hopkins) put S&T up 17-16. A three-pointer by
Alex Benassi (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit) would extend the Miners lead to four, helping them hold the lead until an "and-one" by MU's Caleb Conrad tied the game at 28-28 with less than five to play in the half. The Pioneers would close the half on an 11-5 run to head into the locker room with a 39-33 advantage.
Stovall and
Andrew Young (Ballwin, MO/Marquette) combined for eight points early in the half, cutting their deficit to just two at 43-41. At 7:59, Williams picked up his fifth foul of the game, fouling out while Malone held a seven-point lead at 58-51. Threes from Malone's Tre Baumgardner III and Jake Bruns helped extend their lead to twelve at 68-56 with 4:31 left in the game.
With Williams fouled out and Benassi at four fouls,
Aidan Burns (Thayer, MO/Thayer) came in as to play point guard for the Miners, driving to the rim and scoring on a reverse layup early for the Miners' first field goal in two minutes. Burns' layup would start a key scoring run in the final minutes of regulation that included buckets by Stovall and
Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, IL/Huntley) as the Miners outscored Malone 14-2 to send the game to overtime at 70-70.
The Miners' won the tipoff, scoring quickly off a layup by Stovall to their first lead since the first half. S&T had one of their best defensive efforts of the season in overtime, holding the Pioneers scoreless for the first 2:48 of the extra period. A contested jumper and three from Stovall would conclude a 22-2 run that began in regulation, putting the Miners ahead 78-70 for their largest lead of the game. A couple of threes from MU's Ryan Bartley kept the Pioneers in it late, but the Miners continued to score, holding their lead for an 85-77 victory.
Stovall's career-high 30-points was a team high in the game, as he made 11 of his 19 shots last night. Young recorded 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, giving him his 9th double-double of the season.
What's Next
The Miners will face #4 Missouri-St. Louis tonight at 7:30pm in the Midwest Regional Semi-Final.
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