Box Score DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University men's basketball team (1-0) opened their season with a huge 83-82 double-overtime victory over the St. Mary's University Rattlers (0-1) on day one of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)/Heartland Challenge.
How it Happened: After the first half, Regis held a 40-32 lead thanks in part to 14 points from senior
Dexter Sienko who knocked down 5-of-8 shots from the field. Sophomore
Christian Little and junior
Jarrett Brodbeck each had eight points at the break and it looked like all was well for the Rangers.
However, the visiting Rattlers had something to say about that. After trailing by as many as 12 points, 61-49, StMU went on to outscore RU 43-35 in the second half. The biggest play of the half came after a made layup by Little that put Regis ahead 75-73 with only 33 seconds on the clock. The Rattlers committed a turnover, but then quickly got the ball back on a steal. A missed three-point shot led to a rebound and a put-back layup that went through the net just before time expired, tying the game at 77 points apiece and forcing overtime.
The first five-minute overtime period went back-and-forth between the two teams who were never going to give up. The teams only managed to score two points apiece, which led to another overtime period. The teams went without a bucket for the final 3:36 of the period.
StMU scored the first two points of the second overtime, but two free throws from junior
Ryan Beisty knotted the game 79-79 with a little more than four minutes left. Sienko stole the ball on the defensive end of the court, and hustled down the court where Brodbeck found him for a layup on the other end, giving the home squad a two-point advantage, 81-79. With 41 seconds on the clock, the Rattlers made 1-of-2 free throw attempts to cut the lead to one-point, 81-80. Junior
Avonte Nelms drove to the basket on the ensuing possession and drew a foul. Nelms went to the foul line where he made 1-of-2 shots to give the Rangers an 82-80 lead with 22 seconds to go.
On the next trip down the floor, Little was called for a foul and Will Ferguson stepped up to drill both shots, tying the game at 82. It looked as if the game was heading for a third period of overtime, but Little cruised down the floor and drew a foul with 1.6 seconds on the clock. The reigning RMAC Freshman of the Year knocked down the first shot and intentionally missed his second attempt to limit the chances for StMU to get off a good look. Time ran out and RU came away with the 83-82 double-overtime, season-opening win.
Game Notes: Sienko led all players with 23 points, shooting a very efficient 9-of-15 from the field and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds and swatting four shots. Little, who also grabbed nine rebounds, finished the game with 19 points (5-14 FG, 9-12 FT), six steals and two assists. Brodbeck added 18 points on 5-of-16 shooting including three shots from beyond the arc. Senior
Ty McGee (3-8 FG, 8-12 FT) had 14 points and eight rebounds.
As a team, Regis shot 36.9 percent from the field, including 4-of-21 from distance. The Rangers grabbed 50 rebounds, but they allowed their opponents 53 on the night. Points off turnover went 18-16 in favor of RU, as did second-chance points 22-20. The Rattlers bench outscored Regis' 26-4, but the Rangers found a way to execute when they needed it the most.
Up Next for the Rangers: The men's basketball team will return to action tomorrow night as they take on the Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals (0-1) at 1:30 p.m. at the Regis Fieldhouse.
