Buena Vista, VA - In another overtime classic in Knight Arena, the Southern Virginia University men's basketball team delivered a miraculous performance, upending Pfeiffer on a DJ Green buzzer beater, 98-95.
A quick pace in the opening minutes set the tone for the evening. After giving up the first bucket of the contest, the Knights' shooting took center stage. DJ Green found twine from behind the arc on a give-and-go with Eli Ballstaedt, while Ballstaedt followed with a three of his own on the ensuing possession. The burst helped Southern Virginia build a 10-2 lead in the opening minutes, but the Falcons wouldn't go away quietly.
After a pair of free throws from Tyler Kartchner made the score 28-21, the Falcons went on a 12-3 run to claim their second lead, one they would take into the locker room. At the start of the second half, the Knights struggled to find their groove offensively. However, aggressive defense gave them a much-needed boost.
Tillman Johnson quickly turned two steals into buckets, and Southern Virginia cut the lead to two, 57-59. Despite their defensive intensity, the Falcons shot lights out from outside and retained their lead. After several minutes of back-and-forth action, Kade Harrick connected on a three with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation to give the Knights their first lead since the first half, 71-70.
With the physicality increasing and each possession becoming more important in the final minutes, the Knights found themselves behind, 87-85, with nine seconds remaining. Riding the momentum of two thirty-point outings recently, Eli Ballstaedt took it to the basket and drew a shooting foul with seconds remaining. He made both free throws and sent the game to overtime.
Christian Goode returned for overtime after sustaining an injury midway through the second half to give his team a boost. Holding a 93-92 lead, the Knights' defense made a huge stop in the final minute, forcing the Falcons to foul to extend the game. DJ Green made two free throws to extend the lead; however, Pfeiffer came back with a clutch three to tie the game.
With no timeouts remaining, Tillman Johnson carried the ball up the floor and dished it back to DJ Green on the perimeter, who drilled a three-pointer to keep the Knights undefeated in league play. Green finished with 20 points on the evening, one of three Knights to do so. Tyler Kartchner finished with 24 boards and 8 rebounds and connected on 10 of 13 field goals for a career day.
The Knights return to the floor tomorrow, January 11th, to host William Peace at 2:00 PM. For the most up-to-date information and details on the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_hoops on Instagram.
