By: Ricky Webster
BOX SCORE
FREDONIA, N.Y.—For the second time in as many games, the Fredonia State men's basketball team provided spectators at Steele Hall with last-second excitement. Branden McKenney connected on a lay-up with 1.1 seconds remaining to steal a 53-52 victory from visiting Houghton College.
The Devils, who beat the Cortland Red Dragons on Saturday in double-overtime, move to .500 with a 4-4 record. Houghton also falls to 4-4 with the loss.
The Blue Devils jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead in the first half before Houghton head coach Drew Hannan called a timeout to regroup his players. The Highlanders would rally and keep the game close, but never man managed to take a lead in the first half.
Fredonia State coach Kevin Moore called for a full court pressure for the most part during the half, forcing ten turnovers and keeping the Highlanders to 25 percent shooting in the half. The Devils led 24-21 at the break.
The Devils added to their lead to start the second half. They would lead by as many as 12 points with 7:31 to play.
At the 2:54 mark, Michael Amico would sink a three-point basket to knot the game at 47-all, the closest score since the beginning of the game. With just over a minute remaining, the Highlanders took a two point lead to pull ahead of the Devils for the first time. Fredonia State answered as Joseph Monahan drove the lane and answered with a lay-up of his own to tie the game.
Houghton's Devin Paige, who had struggled from the field all game, came up big with a three-point shot with :38 remaining on the clock to give Houghton a 52-49 lead. Fredonia State's Leonard Smith nailed two free-throws to close the gap to 52-51.
The Devils then fouled Paige to put him on the line. He missed the front-end of a one-and-one free throw and the Devils grabbed the board. Following a timeout, the Devils set themselves up for a dramatic finish once again.
McKenney missed a runner in the lane, and the Devils scrambled for a loose ball, which resulted in a jump-ball in favor of Fredonia State. Smith took the ensuing inbounds pass and found McKenney underneath the basket who hit the lay-up to seal the win.
McKenney, who had a critical lay-up to send the Devils into overtime with Cortland in the previous game, finished with six points. Monahan led the way once again for Fredonia State with 14 points.
Fredonia State is now off until January when they travel to Oneonta for a SUNYAC conference match-up at 8 p.m.
