Courtesy of GoBonnies.com
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Deuce Jones banked home the game-winning three-pointer on a last-second heave to send La Salle to an 83-82 win in overtime Saturday afternoon at the Reilly Center.
Jones’s third three of the day was by far the loudest as he got a shot off between two defenders following an in-bounds pass. It fell through the net with 0.3 seconds remaining to shock the Bonnies.
Lajae Jones recorded a career-high 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor and scored 14 of the Bonnies’ first 22 points on the day.
St. Bonaventure (14-3, 2-2 A-10) had moments where it appeared ready to pull away – Noel Brown drained a three before the halftime buzzer for a four-point lead.
The advantage grew to nine, 45-36, with 15:27 to play.
The Bonnies could not put away the Explorers, though, and the teams shared 14 ties and 13 lead changes.
Brown and Melvin Council Jr. tried to push the Bonnies over the top late.
Free throws from Bona’s fifth-year center broke ties of 65-65 and 67-all while Council stepped to the line with the score knotted again before sinking two shots for a 71-69 lead.
Demetrius Lilley’s three pushed La Salle back in front with 1:19 left and a Bonnies turnover followed by a Jahlil White layup made it seem as though the Explorers might win in regulation.
A three-point play by Council tied the game.
La Salle nearly won the game at the regulation horn, but a tip-in attempt rimmed out.
The extra period was never separated by more than three points, but after a 3-point Bona’s edge, Daeshon Shepherd tied the game at 80 with a trey of his own.
Council’s driving layup made it a two-point Bona lead with 1:56 to go and would be the final bucket until Jones’ heroics.
Seemingly every time the Bonnies made a miscue, the Explorers capitalized.
La Salle tallied 27 points off turnovers and won the turnover battle, 14-6.
Lilley finished with 16 points and eight boards for the Explorers (9-7, 1-2).
Brown recorded 17 points and eight boards, going 10-for-12 at the foul line. Council had 16 for Bona and for both team captains it marked their seventh consecutive game of double-figure scoring.
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