Down five points at halftime (43-38) and after trailing by double digits at the outset of the game, the Golden Eagles responded with a 65-point second half explosion to take down USCAA DI, No. 2 ranked Bryant & Stratton Buffalo 103-82.
It was truly a battle of attrition as KSU Tusc wore down the Bobcats with a smothering, gambling defense, that produced many turnovers resulting in easy scores and forced the latter to foul to slow down the runaway train. Those fouls did slow things down, but not the way that BSB had intended.
Those whistles stopped the action, but resulted in an endless parade to the charity stripe that elongated the final 20 minutes of play and exasperated the Bobcats, who on one possession, were guilty of a flop-technical foul along with two additional technical fouls. The Eagles converted on a very rare six-point possession at the 15-foot line to lead 61-54, after a London Cobbs put back and free throw put them ahead 55-54 at the 14:14 mark.
The last time the Eagles had led in the game was 36-34 after an 8-0 run with 2:12 left in the first half. Nonetheless, the navy and gold made good on 22/27 free throw attempts (81%) in the final half to account for a third of their second half scoring output.
However, the Eagles didn't just make their living at the free throw line. Their defense flexed its muscle and stole away control of the game and fended off any BSB rallies. None of the thefts were more poignant than Vinnie Roper's steals on back-to-back possessions that led to a Kameron Shockley dunk and a Kyle Shockley uncontested lay-up, that vaulted the Eagles to a nine-point, 69-60, advantage.
For nearly five minutes the assault continued and was like trying to catch a freight train rolling down hill with a butterfly net. The Golden Eagles blew the game wide open with a 21-2 outburst spurred on by three Braden Rostad triples and a Kameron Shockley easy basket off an inbounds pass under the KSU Tusc hoop for an 84-62 lead with 7:34 showing on the game clock.
It seemed the only thing left was to decide the final score, but everyone knows that Coach Damone Brown's Bobcat teams do not stop competing until the final buzzer. The Eagles didn't let off the gas and got seven points from their bench, six more from Kameron Shockley, while Rostad bombed in another three and split two BSB defenders in the lane for another bucket to finish strong.
The final result was quite a turnaround for the Eagles who trailed 12-2 at the outset of the game, until a 13-4 run late in the first half got them back to even at 36-36. It was JaJuantae Young's steal and lay-in to start the final half that set the stage for what was to come.
Now 4-3 on the season and currently ranked No. 14 in USCAA D2, the Golden Eagles were led in scoring by Kameron Shockley's 23 points. He scored 17 in the second half alone, made 5/7 free throws and was a huge catalyst, as was Rostad, who posted all 22 of his points in the last 20 minutes of play. Kyle Shockley also scored 22 points and was 11/13 from the free throw line and sank three triples. London Cobbs rounded out the double-digit scoring with 17 points.
As a team the Golden Eagles made good on 80% of their free throw chances, making 33/41 for the game.
On Tuesday, KSU Tuscarawas hosts Penn State Beaver in a 6:00 p.m. tipoff.
Kyle Shockley battles for a loose ball against Bryant & Stratton Buffalo.
Braden Rostad scored 22 second half points and goes up and under for two avoiding two Bobcats.
Vinnie Roper throws a one-handed baseline pass and Kameron Shockley gets fouled on a reverse dunk attempt.
(Photos by Patty Tolloti)