Campus News

ACM wears down Lakers in 3-overtime classic

GC's Jackson pours in game-high 37 points as Lakers fall to 6-2

Photo by Chad Yoder
Laker Gavin Jackson (10) shoots over Allegany College of Maryland's Sebastian Henson (12) as ACM's Alex Byrd (4) looks on. Jackson scored a game-high 37 points last Tuesday night, but Garrett College fell in three overtimes, 121-115.

Cumberland, MD – Allegany College of Maryland and Garrett College have played plenty of memorable men's basketball games over the years. The rivalry's latest installment last Tuesday night – a 121-115 ACM win in triple overtime – will go down as an "instant classic" in the Western Maryland rivalry.

"It was just one of those Garrett-Allegany type of showdowns," said GC head coach Matt McCullough. "It was back and forth, physical – just your typical Garrett-Allegany game."

Trojan EJ Johnson scored a tying hoop to force the first overtime, and teammate Jaylen Brown hit a driving layup to send the game into a second extra period. Not to be outdone, Laker Gavin Jackson drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer off an ACM turnover at the end of the second overtime to once again tie the game.

Moments earlier, ACM (5-5) appeared to have locked up the win. The Trojans forced GC (6-2) into a five-second inbounding violation with 5.5 seconds remaining and ACM protecting a 108-105 lead.

ACM, however, then had its own inbounding issues as Brandon Anderson's inbounds pass was batted away. GC's Nasir Coleman eventually came up with the ball, and batted it to Jackson about 30 feet from the basket. Jackson took one dribble and lined up his game-tying trey.

"That was probably the most exciting moment I've ever been a part of in a basketball game," McCullough said of Jackson's tying 3-pointer.

Anderson's free throw with 2:56 remaining in the third overtime finally put the Trojans ahead to stay, 113-112. Anderson also came up with a huge defensive play down the stretch, blocking a layup by Coleman (22 points, seven rebounds, eight assists) with 1:42 remaining to keep ACM up by a point.

Brown's jumper in the lane with 1:14 remaining gave ACM a 115-112 lead. After a Laker turnover, Anderson sank a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 117-112 as the Trojans took control.

Brown finished with 26 points, 11 assists, and four rebounds to lead the Trojans. Alex Byrd also had a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Sebastian Henson (17 points), Johnson (14 points), and Gabriel Jones (13 points) all reached double digits for ACM.

Jackson, who had averaged just 11.5 points over the previous four games, scored a game-high 37 points in the loss.

"He's received a lot of attention from other teams," said McCullough, noting the Lakers weren't worried about Jackson's mini-slump.

"We know what he's capable of – we see it all of the time," McCullough said. "He was fantastic. We executed a lot of plays to get him some shots in spots he was comfortable. He's a streaky guy, and when he gets on he can really light it up."

K'Shawn Scott (20 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks), reserve Keyonta Johnson (18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists), and Stephen Robinson (10 points, 13 rebounds, three assists) each posted double-doubles for the Lakers.

GC took a 41-38 lead into halftime, but McCullough said his squad should have been in an even better position at the break.

"I thought we missed some easy shots at the basket early," said McCullough. "If we had just converted more easy baskets early, we would probably have been up a little bit more at halftime. In a game like that, every possession matters."

Even so, McCullough was pleased with his squad's effort.

"We did a lot of things well," he said. "Offensively I thought we executed really well – maybe the best we've executed in terms of our half-court offense all year."

McCullough said the team's efforts to get one more chance at the end of the second overtime – resulting in Jackson's tying trey – said a lot about the Lakers.

"Even with our backs against the wall, we never quit," said McCullough. "That was an exciting play that gave us a chance to play five more minutes."