Macon Reporter

Millikin Men’s Basketball Wins Overtime Thriller

The Millikin men's basketball team knocked off College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) co-leader North Park University 86-79 in overtime on February 1 in Chicago.
 
With the game tied at 72-72 at the end of regulation, North Park opened the overtime period with a 5-0 run to go up 77-72. The Big Blue fought back with Demarcus Bond starting the rally with a basket to make it 77-74. Shamar Pumphrey pushed the Viking lead back to five at 79-74. JT Welch would convert two free throws with 3:18 left in overtime to make it 79-76. After a Noah Livingston free throw pulled Millikin to 79-77, Frazier Ott tied the game with a basket with 2:02 remaining. Bond would make two free throws to put the Big Blue up 81-79. Welch extended the lead to 84-79 with 18 seconds left. Bond closed out the scoring with two free throws to seal the victory.
 
Millikin got to the overtime period with a late fourth quarter rally. Millikin trailed 68-64 with 2:38 left in regulation. Bond hit a floater to cut the lead to two. Welch then connected on a three-pointer with 1:36 to play in the second half to put Millikin up 69-68. Two Jaden McClain free throws gave Millikin a three point advantage with 52 seconds left in the period. Jalen Boyd and Adam Bulwa each had baskets to give North Park at 72-71 lead with 14 seconds left in regulation. Trent Champagne tied the game with 10 seconds to go in regulation going one for two at the free throw line.
 
The game had 10 lead changes and four ties. Millikin lead 37-26 at halftime. Millikin biggest lead in the game with 16 points early in the second half. The Vikings largest lead was the five point advantage in overtime. Millikin lead for over 36 minutes of the game.
 
Millikin had five players scored in double figures led by Welch with 18 points. Champagne came off the bench to score 13 points. Bond finished with a double double with 12 points and 10 rebounds along with four assists. McClain had 11 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Ott added 10 points and six rebounds.
 
Kolden Vanlandingham led North Park with 28 points followed by Pumphrey with 18.
 
Millikin shot 51.8 percent (29-56) from the field and went 8-17 from three-point range. Millikin was 20-24 from the free throw line. North Park shot 40 percent (26-65) from the field and left some important points at the free throw line making 17-30. Millikin won the rebounding battle 41-26.
 
Millikin is now 11-10, 4-8. North Park falls to 16-5, 9-3. 

Original source can be found here