Box Score

Buena Vista, VA - The Southern Virginia men's basketball team engaged in a hard-fought overtime battle against the Fighting Squirrels of Mary Baldwin, ultimately falling by a score of 88-91.

The Knights commenced the game with an impressive offensive performance, fueled by back-to-back threes from Sam Jex. However, Mary Baldwin responded emphatically, hitting six consecutive three-pointers to establish an 11-point lead. Undeterred, the Knights fought back with contributions from DJ Green and Koa Baker, narrowing the gap. In the final three minutes of the first half, the Knights seized the lead with a Malakai Olson layup, entering halftime ahead 46-44.

The second half saw the Knights struggling to regain momentum, aside from an Olson three-pointer. Mary Baldwin quickly reclaimed an 11-point lead, showcasing their offensive prowess from behind the arc. Trailing by 14 at 59-73 with nine minutes left, Southern Virginia displayed resilience, clawing back to just two points at 77-79 after two clutch free throws from Green. Despite a valiant effort, the Squirrels responded with five consecutive buckets. A pivotal three-pointer from Baker kept the Knights in the game, and a layup by Baker, followed by crucial free throws from Green, tied the game, forcing overtime.

In overtime, the Knights faced another deficit but managed to limit Mary Baldwin to just four points in the final three minutes. Unfortunately, the Knights couldn't capitalize on offense, resulting in a 88-91 loss with time expiring on a near miss by Phil Harris at the buzzer.

Baker led all scoring with an outstanding 31 points and also grabbed 15 rebounds, showcasing an exceptional individual performance. Following closely, Olson contributed 19 points and two steals to the team's effort.

Looking ahead, the Knights will travel to Pfeiffer University on Friday, February 9th, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 PM. 

For the most up-to-date information and details about the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_hoops on Instagram.