Suvalija’s Late Three Secures Win Over Pioneers

ST. LOUIS, MO. – The Eutectic men's basketball team claimed its first American Midwest Conference (AMC) victory of the season on Thursday night, with a thrilling 79-78 defeat of Crowley's Ridge College (10-14, 3-7 AMC) in the final seconds at the UHSP gymnasium. Down by two with 3.6 seconds on the clock, Jasmin Suvalija banked a triple to take a one-point lead that would not be answered by the Pioneers and secure the win for UHSP. The Eutectic men's win followed the UHSP women's victory over CRC to notch the Eutectics' first Conference home sweep since 2023.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

UHSP 79, CRC 78

• Landon Engelage started scoring for the Eutectics early, making three layups and sinking a three to account for nine of UHSP's points in their 11-3 lead after four minutes. The eight-point lead ended up being the largest for the Eutectics, as the Pioneers caught the Euts after seven minutes and traded the lead throughout the rest of the half.
• The Eutectics' 14-31 made field-goals in the first half was slightly better than the Pioneers' 13-31, but it was CRC's 11-13 free throws compared to UHSP's 6-13 that gave the visitors a slight advantage by halftime at 41-39. Engelage finished the half with 14 points and five rebounds to lead all players.
• Early in the second half, the Eutectics hit a dry spell, allowing the Pioneers to go on a 16-8 scoring run and take their largest lead of the game at 63-52 with 11 minutes to go. But, Engelage, David Moore, and Bryant Odunayo strung together some solid offense with Jasmin Suvalija capping off the run with back-to-back triples to regain the UHSP lead at 71-69 at 5:23. The Pioneers followed up with an and-one and a three to take a five-point lead and were up 78-76 with 26 seconds left in the game. UHSP gained possession after a couple of missed free throws from CRC at :09, and Suvalija then launched the three that would win the game in the final seconds.
• Landon Engelage led all scorers with 26 points on the night, going 7-16 from the field, 3-8 from the arc, and 9-11 from the line, adding seven rebounds. Jasmin Suvalija finished with seven made-threes for 21 points, going 7-16 overall and 7-15 from the arc. Bryant Odunayo pitched in 13 points, four assists, and six rebounds. Brennen Walker grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with his eight points. David Moore nabbed three steals and seven points. Yigit Ekinci (3) and Carmello Bostwick (1) also scored for UHSP.
• Caleb Wade led CRC with 21 points and eight rebounds.

UP NEXT:

Now 4-18 overall and 1-8 in the AMC, the Eutectics will next host Williams Baptist University (17-3, 7-2 AMC) on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m.