SAU Pulls Out Emotional
Victory
11/22/05
Box Score
DAVENPORT,
Iowa -- Some games can be looked at as a possible turning point in a
season. Tuesday may have been just that for the Fighting Bees. SAU pulled
out the victory against St. Francis (Ill.), 94-87 in double overtime, in a
game that was just as intense as the score indicates.
St. Ambrose (4-3) got off to a rocky start, falling behind by 12 points
just seven minutes into the game. They were able to recover however,
thanks to 13 first half points by Andrew Bryant. SAU's defense also kept
them in the game, forcing St. Francis (2-3) to commit 13 turnovers in the
half. The Fighting Bees battled all the way back to tie the game with 19
seconds left in the half, but USF hit two free throws to take the lead
into the locker room.
The second half turned out to be even more of a barnburner than the first
half. USF's lead stayed under three for the first seven minutes of the
half, until Tyler Ryan hit a three-pointer, giving SAU their first lead
since leading 1-0. SAU then pushed their lead to six, but couldn't pull
away, as USF regained the lead with six minutes left. The Fighting Bees
got it back with just over a minute remaining in regulation when Chris
Washington sank a three-pointer, in this his first game of the season,
after breaking his arm in the preseason. Eric Epps then tied the game for
St. Francis with 31 seconds left, giving SAU one last chance for the win
in regulation. Washington held for the last shot, but his jumper was no
good and the two teams headed for overtime.
In the extra period, USF looked like they had the game in hand, getting
out to a seven point lead with under two minutes remaining. After the lead
was cut to six, Washington stepped up and showed what the Fighting Bees
had been missing in his absence. The junior point guard sank two
consecutive three-pointers to tie the game with 30 seconds left. USF then
showed what they were made of, as Mike Smith converted a lay-up with five
seconds left, putting all the pressure on SAU. That pressure turned out to
be a non-issue. Washington drove the length of the court and threw up a
lay-up high off the glass that fell through the net to force a second
extra frame.
The Fighting Bees didn't mess around in the second overtime, outscoring
the Saints 13-6. SAU caught fire in the two overtimes, out shooting USF
60% to 44%. USF turned the ball over 25 times in the game, leading to 36
points for the Fighting Bees.
SAU was led by Bryant, who finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while
also recording four assists and four blocks. Washington struggled early,
scoring just two points in the first half, but was back to his old form by
the end of the game, ending with 17 points, seven rebounds, and four
assists, while connecting on three of his five three-point attempts. Tyler
Ryan also scored in double figures with twelve.
St. Francis' Mike Smith led all scorers with 26 points, while also adding
ten rebounds. Micah Kirstein also recorded a double-double for the Saints,
scoring 22 points and grabbing eleven rebounds. Mike Epps finished with
eight points, six assists, and six rebounds.
The Fighting Bees will take a week-long break, before traveling across the
river on November 30th to face Augustana in Rock Island in what is always
an intense battle. That game is scheduled to tip-off at 7:30 pm.
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