Men's Basketball Drops Overtime Thriller to Cavaliers

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
 
WALESKA, Ga. – In one of the most intense and high-energy games this season for Reinhardt men's basketball, the Eagles scored five points in the final three seconds – to tie the contest with Montreat (N.C.) for the first time all night and force overtime – before falling in extra play in a heartbreaker to the Cavaliers, 90-85, inside the Brown Athletic Center.

The team left it all out on the floor in its home finale, as Reinhardt overcame a game-high 12-point deficit in the second half (47-35) with 15:30 remaining to storm all the way back and give the fans free, additional basketball.

The Eagles never backed down in the physical Appalachian Athletic Conference battle, as both teams threw haymakers at the other with runs in different portions of the game. The hometown group continued to play hard on the defensive end and forced turnovers and crashed the glass, setting up the possibility of making a late run.

The result would seem bleak with 10 seconds left, but Blake McIntyre would drill a long-distance 3-pointer to get Reinhardt within two points (76-74) with three ticks left on the scoreboard. Montreat, however, would keep the door wide open for it hosts after fumbling away the in-bounds pass and giving the ball right back to the Eagles.

Reinhardt would then miss a point-blank shot, but senior Jervon Walker sank the put-back with less than a second remaining to force overtime.

A travel on the first possession by the Eagles would seemingly set the tone for extra time, as the Cavaliers jumped up by four early, only to see Reinhardt tie the score once more at 80-80. Montreat wasn't fazed, unfortunately, as the club hit a trey right after that and never looked back.

Walker finished his last effort at home with a career-high in scoring at 20 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals.

Marcus Kirkland and Kye Jeremiah (off the bench) each posted 15 points, while McIntyre added 11 tallies and five assists.

Jeremiah also collected eight assists and five boards.

Chris Rogers was also a presence down-low in the slugfest, as he totaled five points and nine rebounds.

As a team, the Eagles shot 41.6 percent from the floor (32-of-77) and hit 10 attempts from deep. 

The Yellow Jackets of Allen (S.C.) host Reinhardt in the team's regular-season finale Saturday at 4 p.m.

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