Thrilling Overtime Victory for Marian Sabres Men’s Basketball

The Marian Sabres showcased their resilience and determination in a thrilling overtime victory against the Buena Vista Beavers. The game began with the Sabres jumping out to a quick 10-3 lead, setting the tone early. However, the Beavers fought back, and Marian’s lead grew to as much as 10 points at 27-17. The Beavers responded with a 16-7 run, closing the gap to just one point.

As the first half drew to a close, sophomore Andrew Ayeni’s late layup put the Sabres ahead 36-33. The Sabres extended their lead to 42-36 early in the second half, but the Beavers caught fire from beyond the arc, using a 20-8 spurt to take a 56-50 lead.

With 10:25 left in the game, the Sabres trimmed the deficit to three points, but the Beavers answered with a 12-0 run, pushing their lead to 72-57 with 5:55 remaining. Despite maintaining a double-digit lead with just 2:45 left, the Beavers couldn’t hold off Marian’s late surge. The Sabres quickly scored eight points, narrowing the gap to just two points with 26 seconds left.

In a dramatic finish, free throws were exchanged between both teams, and senior Mahlik Hall hit a clutch triple at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime. The Sabres led by as much as five points in the first overtime session, but the score was tied at 91-91 at the end of the period.

The second overtime saw both teams locked at 97-97 until freshman Harper Krolak’s decisive three-pointer gave Marian a 100-97 lead with 1:43 left. The Sabres held on to secure a hard-fought victory, showcasing their tenacity and teamwork in a memorable game.