Coleman caps a thriller as Eutectics chop down Mighty Oaks

ST. LOUIS, MO – Sometimes the game of basketball just comes down to "make shots and win a game". When you shoot 52% for a game, chances are you will come out on top. The Eutectics did just that and it proved to be just enough to warrant a 72-70 win over Oakland City on Thursday, a team that UHSP lost to by 29 just about three weeks ago. The Eutectics put on a shooting clinic against the Mighty Oaks this time around and a template for efficiency as they scored 72 points on 48 shots. They made the most of their eight three-point attempts making five of them and added 17 more points at the foul line. Justin Coleman had a rebound-putback for the game-winner with :02.5 left to cap a pressure-packed final minute of play. Landon Engelage scored a game-high 23 points going 9-of-15 from the field, missing his season-high by two points as UHSP notched their first-ever win over Oakland City.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

UHSP 72, OAKLAND CITY 70

• Engelage had 13 points in the first half that saw Oakland City lead 34-32 at the break. Bryant Odunayo came off the bench to score four points and grab three rebounds in the half while Chris Grubbs and D'Amare Hood combined for 16 first-half points on 7-of-12 shooting with four rebounds and three steals.
• Fletcher Cole led all scorers in the second half with 11 points for OCU as he was 3-for-5 including one triple and 4-for-4 from the foul line. Starters Justin Coleman, Brennen Walker and Christian Harwood combined for 18 points in the half as they each scored six, none missing more than two shots. K'Shawn Scott gave UHSP their largest deficit with 11:04 remaining after he knocked down a layup to put the Oaks up 52-46, but UHSP immediately responded with a 7-0 run. Engelage hit a three, Odunayo nailed a pair of free throws and Walker made a layup in a span of 1:30 as the Eutectics took a 53-52 lead and continued to make it a tight game. With :45 left in the game, OCU led 70-67. Odunayo knocked down a three with :38 left to tie the game at 70-70. In the waning seconds, Engelage drove in from the right side of the lane but his lay-in attempt was blocked. The rebound came right to Justin Coleman who put it back up and in with :02.5 left to win it for the Eutectics. Kalik Sharpe's potential game-winning three from 37-feet was well high.
• In a game that featured very little separation, there were eight ties and 16 lead changes. The largest lead in the game was just seven points (held by UHSP early in the game), while Oakland City's largest lead was six (midway through the second half).
• Oakland City did not shoot it poorly. The Mighty Oaks were 26-for-57 (45.6%) from the field and 6-of-15 (40%) from three.
• The 62.5% shooting from the three-point line ties for the fifth-best percentage from distance in a game for UHSP.
• Much like the game itself, most of the numbers in this game were fairly even. OCU had the rebound edge (31-30) and won the turnover battle (20-18).
• UHSP is now 1-8 all-time against OCU.

NEXT UP:

Quite a precursor for the Eutectics (3-8) as they now kickoff conference play on Saturday. UHSP is in Conway, AR on Saturday for a 3:00p tip-off against Central Baptist (4-8, 1-0). The Mustangs on Thursday night held off Harris-Stowe in overtime to win their AMC opener, 91-85.