You can do a lot in three seconds. Especially in basketball.
Morgan State’s guard Tiwian Kendley realized three seconds was a lot and hit a shot at the end of regulation to send the Bears into overtime. Kendley hit a running three-pointer to knot the game up at 67—en route to a Bears 85-82 double OT victory Tuesday night against the Manhattan Jaspers at Hill Field House.
Kendley’s three came in response to Manhattan’s Thomas Capuano’s three that gave the Jaspers a 67-63 lead with three seconds left. After seven lead changes and six ties in the overtimes, Manhattan’s Aaron Walker Jr. dunked to tie it again at 82 with 49 seconds left, but Davis and Kendley combined for three free throws and the Bears led 85-82 with one second left.
Manhattan held a tight 35-34 lead at the half. The Jaspers shot better than the Bears in the first half shooting over 50 percent to Morgan’s 41. The Bears got to the charity stripe 14 times in the first half while Manhattan didn’t have a single free throw attempt. The Jaspers got off to a nine-point lead early in the second half—the largest lead by either team to that point. Manhattan was able to control most of the second half, but the turning point of the game was a foul on a 3-point attempt that sent Bears sophomore guard Antonio Gillespie to the line. Gillespie would hit all three free throws to make it a 53-58 game. A Carr 15-footer as the shot clock expired and a 3-point play on the Bears next possession by Kendley gave the Bears a 59-58 lead with less than two minutes to play. The game was tied at 62 in the final minute but Manhattan’s forward Zane Waterman hit a jumper with 30 seconds left. Coming into the game the Bears ranked second in the MEAC in blocks, averaging 4.4 per game.
Junior forward Phillip Carr has 14 of the Bears 35 blocks and averages 1.8 blocks per game. Carr has earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season. Carr finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the double OT win.
The Bears can count on Carr on the defensive end but guard Tiwian Kendley has been the guy to watch on the offensive end. Kendley leads the team in scoring—averaging 20 points per contest. He can also be relied on for the 3-point shot, as he leads his squad in both attempts and makes. Kendley went 5-13 from 3-point range and finished with 40 points and 10 assists Tuesday night.
“Points isn’t something we’re surprised at,” said Bears assistant coach Brain Ellerbe of Kendley. “We want him to grow with shot selection, poise and trusting his teammates”.
The dynamic duo of Carr and Kendley serves as Morgan’s recipe for success this season, but their supporting cast are the ingredients as well. “Coach says the team goes as we go and we can’t go unless we get our teammates involved. I give credit to the whole team for stepping up when we aren’t in the game,” said Kendley.
NEXT UP
The Bears return to Hill Field House when they host Wagner on Saturday, Dec. 10 in the final home contest before the New Year.
