LEWISBURG, Pa. –
Jordan Stiemke rebounded a missed Loyola University Maryland shot and scored a putback in the paint with 40 seconds to go in regulation, tying Bucknell University at 67-67, and the Greyhounds made a defensive stop to force overtime on the Bison's ensuing possession.
The game went to overtime where the Bison made 5 of 8 free throws and survived the Patriot League Championships Quarterfinal Game with a 76-72 win over the Greyhounds.
A game that went to overtime seemed an unlikely outcome early in the night. Bucknell, which entered the Patriot League Championships as the top seed, took a 17-point lead less than 12 minutes into the game. A Noah Williamson basket at 8:22 in the first half pushed the Bison in front, 29-12.
Troy Cicero Jr. made a three from the top-left of the perimeter for the Greyhounds with 7:25 to go in the half, starting a 24-10 run through the end of the half that brought Loyola within three, 39-36, heading into the locker room.
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Braeden Speed three from the right corner at 17:55 in the second half got Loyola within a pair after Bucknell put the opening points on the board in the period, and
Veljko Ilic drew the Greyhoudns level, 41-41, with a putback after grabbing an offensive rebound at 16:44.
Stiemke gave Loyola its first lead of the game with a free throw at 15:59, and
Milos Ilic converted another offensive board into two points at 15:03, and Loyola led, 44-42.
Bucknell (18-14 overall) scored the next 10 points of the game, and a Brandon McCreesh corner three with 12:27 left in regulation put the Bison up eight, 52-44.
The Bison lead was six, 59-53, with 7:30 on the clock after two Ruot Bijiek free throws at the 7:30 mark.
Jacob Theodosiou scored on a driving layup to cut Loyola's deficit to four less than 30 seconds later, and
Milos Ilic scored in the paint, was fouled and made the ensuing free throw with 5:49 left in regulation, cutting the Bucknell lead to 59-58.
Theodosiou then converted a traditional 3-point play with a layup, foul and free throws with 5:15 to play, and Loyola (12-19) was up a pair.
Stiemke made two free throws with 3:05 left in the game for another two-point Loyola lead.
Achile Spadone made a three for the Bison at 2:38 to give them a 64-63 lead, but
David Brown III scored on a reverse layup to put Loyola on top again.
Josh Bascoe hit a three for Bucknell at 1:54, and the lead swung again to the Bison's favor, 67-65.
Neither team scored until Stiemke's putback with 40 seconds on the clock, and both teams missed shots after that, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra period, Noah Williamson made one of two at the line 33 ticks in, and Elvin Edmonds IV scored with 3:49 on the clock to put the Bison up, 70-67.
Speed hit another three for Loyola to tie the game at 70-70 with 3:33 on the clock.
Bascoe made two free throws less than two minutes later, and Spadone scored on a driving layup with 54 seconds to play, giving Bucknell a four-point cushion.
Speed drove and was fouled with 40 seconds left in overtime, making both free throws to pull Loyola within two, but those were the last Greyhounds points, and Williamson made two of four at the line to seal the game.
Theodosiou led Loyola with 17 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists, while Stiemke scored 14 and had nine rebounds.
Milos Ilic added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Speed scored 10.
