Overtime Unkind To Men's Basketball As Purple Knights Drop High-Scoring 114-103 Decision To NYIT

Bridgeport, Conn.-The NYIT Bears outscored the host University of Bridgeport Purple Knights, 18-7, in overtime to post a high-scoring 114-103 East Coast Conference victory on Saturday afternoon.  UB is now 15-6 overall and 11-3 in the ECC.  NYIT ups its overall record 9-12, and the Bears are 6-7 in conference play.  NYIT hit 5-of-6 field goals, including a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point range, in the extra period.

The victorious Bears were led by the leading scorer in the nation, Darian Hooker, who netted a career-high 43 points.  Hooker sent the game into overtime tied at 96-96, with a basket with just 3.7 seconds to play in regulation.  UB had grabbed a 96-94 lead when junior Devon Elliott (Brooklyn, N.Y.) completed an old-fashion, three-point play with a lay-up and free throw with 25.3 to go in the second half.  Elliott led the Purple Knights in scoring with UB career-high 32 points.

Saturday's game featured 23 lead changes and 14 ties, as the two teams battled back-and-forth before NYIT went on a 12-2 run to open the overtime to grab a 108-98 lead with 1:02 to play.

With score tied 78-78 with 5:27 to play in regulation, Bridgeport would go on an 8-0 run to take an 86-78 lead with 4:13 to go in the second half, but the Bears would go on an 8-0 run of their own to tie thing at 86-86 with 2:25 in the second 20 minutes.  The final 2:25 of regulation included seven lead changes and two ties.

Elliott was joined in double figures for Bridgeport by senior Willie Williams III (Norwalk, Conn.) who had a double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds and junior Ernest Rouse (Freeport, N.Y.) added 14 points.

Up next, Bridgeport plays its final non-conference game of the 2014-15 at Goldey Beacom University in Delaware on Tuesday evening.