Eagle Men Win OT Thriller in IEAC Opener

Jamaal Barnes scored a driving lay-up as time expired on Wednesday night to lead the MSJC men's basketball team to a thrilling 87-86 overtime victory against Copper Mountain College in their Inland Empire Athletic Conference opener.

The Eagles led by 4 at the half and had to make some clutch plays down the stretch to force overtime in a game that featured 12 ties and 7 lead changes.  Regulation ended with the teams tied at 77, both teams had a chance to win it as the Eagles couldn't connect off an offensive rebound and then the Fighting Cacti failed to make a buzzer beating jumper from just inside half court.

In overtime Copper Mountain seemed to be in control of the game leading 84-80 with 1:13 to play, but a huge four point play by Lenzell Simmons tied the game as he drained a three point shot and was fouled. Copper Mountain reclaimed the lead at 86-84 with just under a minute to go, Simmons would add another free throw for MSJC to cut the lead back to one with 20 seconds to play in the game.  The Eagles were forced to foul trailing by one with 9 seconds left, but a pair of missed free throws by Tyler Hudson set up Barnes dramatic last play.  Barnes drove the ball the length of the floor and dropped in a left handed floater off the backboard as time expired to give the Eagles the 87-86 victory.

Simmons finished the night with a game high 30 points off the bench, he also grabbed 9 rebounds.  Barnes ended the evening with 23 for the Eagles.  Chidi Okwarabizie controlled the paint for MSJC as he grabbed a game and career high 20 rebounds in the game, 9 of those came on the offensive end.  Kamien Cederlind had 9 in the win and Ethan Bell chipped in with 8 points and 3 assists.

The win improved the Eagles overall mark on the season to 5-8, they are 1-0 in IEAC action, Copper Mountain fell to 4-7, 0-1.  MSJC will be off until after the new year when they travel to Barstow College on January 2nd and Cerro Coso on the 4th.  The Eagles next home game will be part of a doubleheader with the women when they host Victor Valley on January 8th with tip-offs set at 5 and 7 pm.