OT Heartache Ends Season
March 11, 2010
For the second time at the tournament, #8 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) battled back from a double-digit ,second-half deficit to knock off Bethel College (Ind.) 67-64 in overtime. It marks the third time the Eagles will play in the Elite Eight and first since 2001. The 2010 event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks (Mo.). The game lived up to its seeding as the two teams exchanged the lead seven times in the opening half. Bethel went on the games first substantial run, when, down one (12-11), the Pilots outscored Embry-Riddle 14-2 to open up a 25-14 advantage. Bethel held the Eagles to just one field goal over a five minute stretch during the run. A Ryne Lightfoot three-pointer followed by a three-point play by Tony Benford gave the Pilots their largest lead of the game (33-19) just before the half. Both teams struggled from the perimeter in the first period as Bethel shot 17% (1/6) and Embry-Riddle shot only 10% (1/10). Embry-Riddle opened the second half with a pair of three-pointers by Blake Touchard and Danny Krazit to move to within two, 37-35. Bethel responded with a run of its own and after two free throws by Wes Laidig, pushed its lead back to seven with under six minutes left. Another Touchard three-pointer, his third of the game, cut it to one and Embry-Riddle grabbed its first lead since early in the first half on five free throws, the final two by Ray Graham with under a minute to go. Down three (60-57), Bethel came out of a timeout and Benford delivered a game-tying three-pointer with seconds left to send the game into overtime. The teams traded baskets for most of the extra period and the game was tied at 64 after a jumper by Lightfoot. On the ensuing possession, Embry-Riddle guard Glenn Dalcourt put the Eagles ahead on a jumper with 21 seconds left. Bethel came down but missed on their final two attempts to tie it in the closing seconds. Embry-Riddle shot 39% for the game and held a big 43-32 advantage on the boards. David Butler scored 17 points to lead the Eagles while teammate Blake Touchard added 13. Eric Lorenzi registered a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Bethel was paced by Wes Laidig with 13 points and seven rebounds while Tony Benford put in 10. The Pilots shot 39% for the game and continued to struggle from the perimeter, shooting 25%.
