MBB: Eagles Win OT Thriller to Stay One Game Back In IEAC Race

MSJC's Cameron Durr scored with under 2 seconds to play Wednesday night to force the game into overtime as the Eagles defeated Palo Verde 77-66. (Austin Schmidt-MSJC)
MSJC's Cameron Durr scored with under 2 seconds to play Wednesday night to force the game into overtime as the Eagles defeated Palo Verde 77-66. (Austin Schmidt-MSJC)

Game Leaders

Palo Verde
Pts: DaiJohn Stewart - 17
Reb: Larry Hemingway - 12
Ast: Larry Hemingway - 6
Mt. San Jacinto
Pts: Danilo Da Silva - 26
Reb: Anton Mozga - 18
Ast: Ethan Bell - 5

Team Stats

Palo Verde
Mt. San Jacinto

Field Goals

(25-67)
(24-78)

Field Goal %

37.3%
30.8%

Rebounds

47
56

Assists

11
16

Turnovers

21
13

Pts off Turnovers

11
19

2nd Chance Pts

11
10

Pts in the Paint

30
22

Fastbreak Pts

0
0

Bench Pts

21
19
full stats
Posted: Feb 17, 2022

The MSJC men's basketball team overcame a very bad shooting night on Wednesday to defeat Palo Verde for the third time this season 77-66 in overtime.

The Eagles needed a basket from Cameron Durr with just over one second to play to force overtime, as he picked up an offensive rebound and banked in a 6 foot shot to tie the game at 57 all.  Palo Verde was unable to get off a desperation shot and the game was sent into overtime.  MSJC finally got their offense going in the extra five minute period as they shot 6 of 10 from the floor and 6 of 7 from the free throw line to pull away for the victory.  The 6 for 10 in overtime came after the team went just 18  of 68 from the floor during regulation.  Danilo Da Silva kept the Eagles in it all night as he scored a game high 26 points as he scored the first 8 points of the night for MSJC and had 14 in the first half.

The Eagles trailed by 5 with 3:26 remaining in the game before 5 made free throws, 2 by Isaiah Skinner and 1 by Da Silva cut the lead to 52-50, then the Eagles tied the score on two more free throws, this time by Anton Mozga to make it 52 all.  Da Silva hit another big three with just under two minutes to play, but after a free throw by the Pirates with 17 seconds left MSJC trailed by two to set up the big play from Durr to send the game into OT.

Skinner, Hardiman, and Ethan Bell joined Da Silva in double figure scoring on the night as Skinner finished with 13, Bell with 12, and Hardiman with 11.  Mozga ended the night with a game high 18 rebounds, Hardiman just missed a double double as he hauled in 9 boards and Mekhi Hill had 8 rebounds.

The win was the 7th in a row for the Eagles and improved their record to 16-9 on the season 11-3 in Inland Empire Athletic Conference games.  MSJC, who sits one game behind San Bernardino Valley in the IEAC standings, will play the Wolverines Saturday in San Bernardino at 3 pm.  The Eagles then wrap up conference play next Wednesday at College of the Desert and then conclude the regular season with a home game against LA Southwest Friday February 25th at 6 pm.