CLINTON, S.C. – Rayshon Harrison scored a career-high 32 points and Winston Hill tallied a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Presbyterian Blue Hose (1-1) to a 73-72 overtime win over the VMI Keydets (1-1) in the Templeton Center. Hill connected on two free throws with six seconds left in overtime which gave the Blue Hose the lead for good.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – The lead exchanged hands several times over the first eight minutes. With VMI leading 10-8 with 12:25 on the clock, Presbyterian scored six straight points behind two threes by Harrison taking the first half lead for good, 14-10. The Blue Hose maintained a lead of 4-6 points for the next eight minutes. With PC leading 21-17 with just over four minutes left in the half, the Blue Hose scored six straight points behind baskets by Harrison and Zeb Graham and two free throws by Hill pushed their lead to 27-17 with 2:50 on the clock. At the two-minute mark, Harrison connected on his third three of the half giving the Blue Hose their largest lead 30-19. VMI scored the final five points of the half cutting Presbyterian's halftime lead to 30-24.
 
SECOND HALF – For the first twelve and a half minutes of the second half, Presbyterian led the game. With 11:37 left in the second half, the Blue Hose led VMI, 52-43, after Brandon Younger connected on a layup. VMI went on a 13-3 run over the next four minutes taking a 56-55 lead when Connor Arnold scored with 7:25 on the clock. Four straight points by Harrison capped off by a monster alley-oop dunk off a pass from Kobe Stewart pushed the Blue Hose back in front, 59-56. VMI regained the lead, 63-59, after a 7-0 run. Presbyterian's Harrison scored four unanswered points which would tie the score at 63. Both teams had chances to win the game in regulation but the game remained tied at 63 when the clock hit zero.
 
OVERTIME – VMI scored the first two points of the overtime period. Presbyterian's Trevon Reddish-Rhone knocked down two free throws tying the score at 65. VMI connected on a three. Two free throws by Harrison and a jumper by Harrison just outside the lane gave the Blue Hose a 69-68 lead. The teams exchanged baskets. Then, VMI's Jake Stephens, who scored 23 points, connected on two free throws giving the Keydets a 72-71 lead. With six seconds on the clock, Hill was fouled after putting the ball back up after an offensive rebound. Hill converted on two free throws pushing Presbyterian back in front. As time expired, Presbyterian blocked a VMI three-point attempt from the corner to preserve the win.  
 

QUOTABLE
"I was proud of my guys, I thought they fought really hard," Presbyterian coach Quinton Ferrell said. "I thought we started the game off pretty well. In the second half, we made some mental mistakes which led to several threes from them. I thought our guys showed a lot of resolve to keep fighting. VMI took the lead late in the second half and we were able to come back and get the game into overtime. In overtime, we made some huge plays. I am really proud of my guys who fought their tails off and never quit and they were rewarded with a win."


NOTES

• Harrison scored a career-high 32 points. Harrison's previous career-high was 31 points against Charleston Southern last February 22. Harrison's 32 points performance is tied for the sixth-most points scored in a single game by a Blue Hose player in the Division I era. Harrison also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists.
• Hill recorded his second career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
• Presbyterian enjoyed a 26-16 advantage in points in the paint.
• The Blue Hose grabbed 20 offensive rebounds.

 

NEXT GAME
The Blue Hose conclude their two-game homestand against The Citadel at the Templeton Center this Monday, November 15 at 7 p.m.