WINGATE, N.C.-- The Lenoir-Rhyne/Wingate rivalry has brought many memorable moments with tonight adding to the list for senior C
Cooper Fowler. Two years ago, Fowler hit the game-winning buzzer beater in an 86-85 win that landed on the SportsCenter Top 10 and he followed that up with an epic step-back 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in overtime to send it to double OT. Fowler would finish with a season-high 18 points and went 7-of-9 from the field while adding three boards in 25 minutes as LR topped Wingate by three after 50 minutes of basketball.
GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 108, Wingate 105 (2 OT)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (9-13, 4-10 SAC), Wingate (14-9, 9-5 SAC)
Location: Wingate, N.C. | Cuddy Arena
STATS OF THE GAME:
- It didn't look like the game would even get to overtime as Wingate led by seven with 1:42 to go in regulation and six with 51 seconds. A T.J. Nesmith 3-point play cut it to three and then the senior would score five more points in the next 29 seconds to put LR up 81-79 with 10 seconds left.
- Wingate's Jarren Cottingham hit a driving layup with four seconds left to even the game at 81 and send it to overtime.
- In the first OT, it was the Bears who would take the upper hand. A Fowler triple put the Bears up six at 90-84 with 2:36 to play. However, Donell Nixon would hit three free throws and Andreas Wilson connected on a 3-point to even the game at 90.
- A jumper by John Massey made it 94-92 Wingate and Destin Clark was fould with 13 seconds to go. Clark went just 1-of-2 from the line, leaving the door open for the dramatic Fowler three to send it to double OT.
- With the game tied at 98, LR took over.
Jalen Johnson buried a three and
Nas Tyson converted a layup in the lane to put LR up five.
Malik LeGania's three-point play made it 107-100 with 35 seconds but the Bulldogs wouldn't go away.
- Down 108-100 after a Johnson free throw with 23 seconds, Nixon hit a lay up and Wilson stole the ensuing inbounds pass and nailed a triple to make it a one-possession game at 108-105.
- Tyson was fouled with just under two seconds to play and went 0-of-2 from the line but a Wingate heave at the buzzer from 85 feet wasn't close as LR prevailed.
- Nesmith had arguably his best game of his career with 29 points and a career-high 12 boards before fouling out. Johnson went for 24, including nine in the two overtime periods, while hitting 4-of-7 from long range.
- Fowler went 4-of-6 from three and accounted for 18 points off the bench.
Hamilton Campbell added nine and five assists and Tyson had seven points, seven boards and four assists.
- LeGania added a season-best 10 points and five boards.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- LR had to come back in regulation and pull it out in OT despite losing
L.J. McCoy at the 15 minute mark of the second half with an injury.
- Nesmith fouled out with 1:14 left in the first OT period.
- The win ended an eight-game road losing streak for LR.
- This was the 85th 100-point scoring game in program history for LR and just the second since the end of the 2020 season.
- LR is now 75-10 all-time when scoring 100 points and 10-1 under
Everick Sullivan.
- LR also snapped a six-game losing streak overall.
- Wingate's Wilson erupted for 30 points off the bench to go with his 25-point performance against the Bears in Hickory earlier this season. He also had a 17-point performance against LR in 2021.
UP NEXT: The Bears will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Tusculum for a 4 p.m. tip.
