ELKINS –
Teron Owens' layup at the buzzer forced overtime and
Wesley Sprinkle's three pointer with seven seconds left gave the Davis & Elkins College Men's Basketball team a 79-78 win over West Virginia Wesleyan Monday night at the McDonnell Center.
Rickenjee Bellevue made two key free throws with 36 seconds left in regulation and the Senators forced a shot clock violation on defense to give D&E a chance to tie the game. Owens drove the lane and laid one off the glass as time expired that fell to tie the game at 67 and force overtime.
In an overtime that saw the lead change hands or tie nine times, D&E found itself in a tie at 72 with under two minutes to go. Bellevue gave D&E a 74-72 lead with a put-back layup.
However, Wesleyan took the lead on a three pointer by Fred Brondsted with 29 seconds left to go up 75-74. Bellevue followed it up with another put back to give D&E a 76-75 lead, only to see a Kevin Kangni three pointer give Wesleyan a 78-76 lead with 13 seconds to go.
The Senators worked up the floor quickly and Sprinkle took a quick pass from McElveen and hit a three pointer to give the hosts the lead with seven seconds left. Wesleyan had a chance as Mo Berchie's contested layup bounced off the rim twice before falling as time expired.
Sprinkle led the Senators with 18 points in the game and had three assists.
Bellevue had six points in overtime and finished with a double-double, recording 10 points and 11 rebounds to go along with two blocks.
Owens finished with 12 points, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor, including three from behind the arc.
McElveen finished with 11 points and was second on the team with eight rebounds. He also had five assists.
Kevin Bracy-Davis was also in double figures, scoring 13 points. Bracy-Davis led the Senators with six assists and had two blocks.
The win is the third straight for the Senators, who have not lost at home this season. D&E will head back on the road as they play at Fairmont State on Thursday. The game is set for a 6:30 p.m. start in Fairmont.
