JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. –
Carl Parrish buried a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime, sparking Presbyterian to a thrilling 91-85 comeback win as the Blue Hose (15-17) placed four players in double figures and defeated Radford (16-16) in overtime to advance to the Big South Tournament semifinals.
Parrish scored a game-high 23 points while connecting on five three-point field goals, including the game-tying three.
Jaylen Peterson recorded a double-double with 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the field while grabbing 13 rebounds.
Jonah Pierce recorded another double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Chidi Chiakwelu had a big game off the bench with a career-high 18 points on a perfect shooting performance, going 8-for-8 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.
Presbyterian finished the game with a 52-38 advantage in points in the paint and a 25-8 advantage in bench points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Peterson scored the first two points for the Blue Hose on a layup. Radford scored 11 of the first 13 points. With 11:25 on the clock, Radford had pushed their lead to 12 points, 14-2. The Blue Hose scored 12 of the next 17 points, cutting Radford's lead to 19-14 after a three-point play from Peterson with 6:27 on the clock. The Highlanders scored four straight points, pushing their lead to 23-14. Presbyterian cut Radford's lead to five points a couple of times the rest of the half, including after a Peterson dunk with 37 seconds on the clock. Radford's Del Jones banked in a three in the closing seconds of the half, giving Radford a 36-28 halftime lead.
SECOND HALF - Radford scored the first three points of the half, pushing their lead to 11 points, 39-28. Baskets from Peterson and Piece got the Blue Hose within seven points. With 15:15 on the clock, Pierce scored inside, getting the Blue Hose within two, 43-41. Radford answered with a three. Parrish followed with a three from the wing. Radford scored eight straight points, taking a 54-44 lead with 12:13 on the clock. After a layup from Chiakwelu and a three from Parrish, the Blue Hose cut Radford's lead to 54-49 with 9:23 left in regulation. Radford maintained a lead of 4-7 points for the next four minutes. With five minutes on the clock, Radford held a 63-58 lead, a three-point play from Pierce and a turnaround jumper in the lane from Parrish tied the score at 63 with just under four minutes left. Radford regained the lead, scoring four straight points. The Blue Hose eventually tied the score at 67 after a dunk from
Triston Wilson with 2:38 remaining. Radford scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 75-69 lead with 30 seconds on the clock. A dunk from Chiakwelu got the Blue Hose within four points. Radford made one of two free throws, pushing their lead to 76-71 with 18 seconds on the clock. Presbyterian's
Josh Pickett connected on a three in front of Presbyterian's bench, cutting Radford's lead to 76-74 with eight ticks on the clock. Radford made one of two free throws, increasing their lead to 77-74. Then Parrish from just across half court banked in a three, tying the score at 77, sending the game to overtime.
OVERTIME – Radford scored the period's first two points. Then, after baskets from Parrish, Chiakwelu, and two free throws from Parrish, Presbyterian took a lead they would never relinquish. Clutch free throws from Peterson, Parrish, and
Iverson King over the final 30 seconds sealed the victory for Presbyterian.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- With the win, Presbyterian advanced to the Big South Tournament semifinals for the first time in school history.
- The Blue Hose defense held Radford to 24 percent shooting (7-for-29) from beyond the three-point arc for the game. In overtime, Presbyterian shot 80 from the field while holding Radford to 22 percent shooting from the field.
- Parrish, after going 4-for-4 from the free throw line, has now made 23 consecutive free throws.
- Parrish recorded his sixth 20-point scoring game of the season and his 25th double-digit scoring game.
- Peterson's 20 points and 13 rebounds performance marked his fourth double-double of the season.
- Pierce tallied his Big South-leading 17th double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
- Chiakwelu's 18 points marked his third double-figure scoring game of the season.
NEXT GAME
Presbyterian plays Winthrop in the Big South Tournament Semifinals on Saturday, March 7, at 2:30 p.m.
