Rocky Mount, N.C. - Sophomore Marcus Williams drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer in overtime to lift his N.C. Wesleyan men's basketball team to an 88-86 win over Averett University on Wednesday night in Everett Gym. The game, which featured 10 lead changes and 12 ties, was the USA South Conference opener for both squads.
The Cougars led by 11 late in the first half, but Wesleyan would net the final four points of the period to cut its deficit to seven at the break, 44-37. Early in the second half, however, Averett was able to push its lead back to double-digits before an 8-0 Bishop run pulled them to within three, 52-49, midway the period. NCWC later completed the comeback with a pair of free throws by freshman Chris Sause at the 8:27 mark.
Tied 55-55 at the point, the Bishops went on to hold a 2-to-5 point advantage throughout the remainder of regulation. The Cougars were able evenutally able to force OT with a Charles Bryant jumper that made the score 72-72 after 40 minutes of play.
Averett proceeded to score the first four points in overtime before back-to-back three-pointers by senior Brandon Brown knotted the score at 78-78 with 2:24 to go. Brown's third trey would later give the Bishops an 83-82 lead at the 1:09 mark, but a pair of free throws by AU's James Contreras, Jr. would again put the Cougars on top with 31 seconds left.
The final 13 seconds saw Bishop sophomore Adrian Moore and AU's Bradley Robinson trade go-ahead buckets. Moore's shot at the win with three ticks on the clock rimmed out, but a Cougar turnover off the rebound left Wesleyan with 1.9 seconds to get up a final shot. Senior Jesse Simpson then found a Williams in the corner for the gamewinner, igniting a Bishop celebration on the sideline.
Brown finished with a game-high 21 points, with Moore chipping in 20 off the bench. Brown also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, while Williams added 13 points and five assists.
For Averett, Contreras led five players in double-figures with 19 points on the night.
Now winners of four straight, the Bishops are set to host league foe Ferrum College on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 4:00pm in Everett Gym.