By Chris McLaughlin
Using the momentum of a Shemik Thompson buzzer beater, the CCSU men’s basketball team won an overtime thriller 72-67 over Fairleigh Dickinson.
Despite trailing to FDU (4-14) by four with 10 seconds left, the Blue Devils (12-7) remained poised and were able to send the game to overtime. CCSU was able to chip away at the lead and benefited from FDU’s missed free throws.
With three seconds left, the Blue Devils used a threw the ball down court where it was picked up by Ken Horton and dished to a wide open Thompson, who drove straight to the basket for a lay-up to beat the clock.
“I knew I wanted the ball,” said Thompson. “I didn’t want to lose at home, and I knew if he missed the free throw I was going to make the shot.”
While the game had a dramatic finish, it started out as any other. The Blue Devils traded baskets with FDU for much of the first half. While the team was able to build a small lead, it was all but erased in the closing minutes of the first half.
The Blue Devils were led by Thompson who had 13 points in the first half, while FDU was led by Briahn Smith, who had nine. Though neither team played well offensively, both played stingy defense. The teams shot from under 40 percent and committed several turnovers. The closely contested first half ended 28-26 with CCSU on top.
“Our games with FDU have always been back and forth,” said Head Coach Howie Dickenman. “We lost down there so we knew we had to get one back.”
During the final minutes of the first half, it appeared that FDU was starting to take over. The team closed the half scoring five unanswered points and the athletes picked up where they left off in the second. The small run turned into a 13-0 run as CCSU’s offense went stagnant.
FDU went up by eight before CCSU began to pick it up on offense and creep back into the game. Horton and Thompson helped trim the lead, but every time CCSU was on the verge of tying it up, a turnover would prevent them from doing so.
Though FDU maintained its lead until the final seconds, when Thompson hit the buzzer beater, the lead would have been much larger without the defensive play of De’Angelo Speech. He caused three five-seconds calls, including one in the final minute. The score was kept close and when Terence Grier missed his free throw, CCSU was given the chance to tie.
“The last play we called home run,” said Dickenman. “Once they get it they do a head fake and go to the basket. Shemik got it, took one dribble and overtime.”
Using the momentum from the buzzer beater, CCSU came out strong in overtime. Though the offense had struggled for much of the game, it showed up in overtime. While the regulation belonged to Thompson, overtime was all Horton’s. His nine overtime points kept CCSU on top and secured the team’s miracle win. Both Thompson and Horton finished with over 20 points and 10 rebounds to pick up the rest of the team.
“This is one game we shouldn’t have won,” said Dickenman. “We were down four with under 10 seconds, but I always say good players step up their games and Ken and Shemik proved that today.”
The Blue Devils have won two straight and are gaining ground in the NEC. The men’s basketball team continues conference play when Mount St. Mary’s comes to New Britain on Thurs. Jan. 27.
