RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 1) – Tyre Gathright (Sr./Wilmington, NC) led five double-figure scorers with 22 points as Saint Augustine's University took nationally-ranked Morehouse College into overtime before falling 85-82 in a men's non-conference basketball game at Emery Gymnasium on Saturday.
Gathright added nine rebounds for the Falcons, who played four nationally-ranked teams in their first seven games. Morehouse ranked 11th in the NABC Coaches Poll entering the contest.
Jquwan Ruffin (Jr./Ahoskie, NC) added 12 points and Mel'Quan Ames (Jr./Weldon, NC) scored 11 points off the bench, including 3 of 3 shooting behind the three-point line. Rashad George (So./Raleigh, NC) and D.J. Harrison (Sr./Winston-Salem, NC) each contributed 10 points and Harrison grabbed nine rebounds.
Gathright scored 18 points in the second half as the Falcons (2-5 overall) rallied from a 46-35 second-half deficit to force overtime. He scored nine of the Falcons' final 15 points in regulation, including a layup with 11 seconds left to pull the Falcons even at 70-70. Morehouse misfired on a three-pointer as time expired.
In the extra period, Morehouse was up 82-74 with 2:07 remaining before the Falcons rallied again. Three pointers by Ruffin and Jalen Gaddy (Jr./Raleigh, NC) cut the deficit to 84-82 with 18 seconds left. Morehouse made one of two free throws, and the Falcons barely missed two three-pointers that would have sent the game into a second overtime.
James Walker collected 21 points as five players scored in double figures for the Maroon Tigers (5-1 overall). Omar Alston added 17 points while Robert Andrews and Michael Olmert each scored 16 points. Devonte Butler chipped in 12 points.
The Falcons host Claflin University at Emery Gymnasium on Saturday, Dec. 8, in a CIAA rematch. Tipoff is 4 p.m.
