ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University men's basketball team was edged by Marymount University 92-91 in triple overtime on Saturday afternoon in the Atlantic East Conference opener.
Aaron Johnson-Chavis tallied a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Waheem Lowman netted 17 points.
Raquan Brown-Johnson also had a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists.
Jordan Collins tallied 12 points and
Isaiah Wilmore added 11.
The Knights scored the first six points of the third overtime, before the Saints answered with the final seven points of the game. With 5.9 seconds on the clock and the Knight holding a 91-89 lead, the Saints came down the court and hit a layup and one. The free throw proved to be the game-winner. Neumann dribbled the ball down the court but could not get a shot off before the buzzer.
In the first overtime, Neumann was down by three when Wilmore hit a three-pointer just before the buzzer to send the game into the second overtime. In the second extra session, Lowman hit a layup with 18 seconds on the clock to tie the game. The Saints missed a buzzer beater and the teams went to the third overtime.
Both teams held small leads throughout the first half. The largest lead, held by the Knights, was just six, 20-14 and 28-22.
Austin Smith hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, but the Saints took a slim 36-35 lead at the break.
Johnson-Chavis opened the second half with a jumper as the Knights scored the first seven points. Neumann built a nine point advantage, 48-39, just over five minutes into the half. The Saints chipped their way back and tied the game at 52 just over midway through the half. The teams traded baskets until Marymount took a five point lead, 65-60, with three minutes left in regulation. A layup by Collins and three-pointer by Brown-Johnson tied the game at 65 with 1:42 on the clock. Both teams had chances to finish the game in regulation, but the ball would not fall in the net on jumpers or free throws and the teams went into extra time.
Neumann (5-3, 0-1 Atlantic East) will head to Misericordia on Monday for a non-conference contest beginning at 7:00 PM.
NOTE: The last time the Knights went into more than one overtime was back on November 15, 2014 when it fell to Lehman College 78-74 in double overtime.
