The REPORTER
For the second straight game the University boys contest came down to a buzzer beating shot in overtime. Tuesday night the Trailblazers came up on the wrong side of the decision as Sectional 42 foe Cardinal Ritter claimed a wild 78-77 overtime victory.
Josh Henderson’s basket with 5.8 seconds left in overtime put University ahead 77-76 but Ritter pushed the ball up the floor and scored on a layin as time expired.
University staged a tremendous rally to force overtime. Trailing 66-58 with 67 seconds left the Blazers rallied to knot the score at 69 when Faisal Mohamud hit a three pointer from the right corner as time expired in regulation. Henderson started the late rally with a pair of foul shots before Max McComb scored with 50 seconds left to pull University within five. Henderson scored again off a McComb assist with 35 seconds left and again with 17 seconds left before Mohamud tied the score.
The teams were tied at 73 midway through overtime with McComb going 4-for-4 at the line for University. Mohamud and McComb each split a pair of foul shots to put University down 76-75 with 25 seconds left. The Blazers forced a turnover to get the ball and McComb found Henderson at the rim for the short-lived University lead.
Mohamud led University with a career-high 27 points. McComb had 18 points while Henderson had 13, all in the fourth quarter and overtime.
The Trailblazers lost for the first time after opening the season with two wins. University will host Liberty Christian Saturday evening in a Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference North Division showdown. The contest will be the nightcap of a triple header that begins with junior varsity boys action at 5 p.m. followed by a girls varsity contest.
