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EDINBURG, Texas – Senior
Quinton Pippen (Hamburg, Ark./Hamburg)'s 3-point attempt from the top of the arc at the buzzer of overtime was off the mark as UTPA handed Chicago State a 71-68 defeat in a Western Athletic Conference contest at the UTPA Fieldhouse on Thursday (Feb. 13) evening.
Chicago State's best chance to win the game came in regulation. Junior
Rahjan Muhammad (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley)'s steal and layup with 2:23 remaining in the second half put the Cougars up 61-56. It would be Chicago State's final points of regulation. Jarvorn Farrell followed with a 3-pointer on the other end and Shaquille Hines tied it with a pair of free throws at the 1:18 mark. Farrell had a chance to win it for the Broncs in regulation but his 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining was off the mark.
The Cougars' only lead of overtime came when senior
Matt Ross (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) opened the period with a layup. It was a one-possession game throughout the extra five minutes. Junior
Clarke Rosenberg (Skokie, Ill./Evanston Township) tied the contest at 68 on a drive to the basket with 42 seconds left following an offensive rebound by senior
Corey Gray (Houston, Texas/Hightower). On the ensuing possession, it was UTPA junior guard Shaquille Boga sinking the game clinching 3-pointer with 18 seconds remaining. The Cougars had a shot to tie it up but Pippen's attempt at the buzzer was short.
Pippen finished with 19 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals. He was 4-of-15 from beyond the arc. Muhammad contributed 15 points. Senior
Nate Duhon (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) totaled 10 points.
Chicago State forced 23 turnovers but was limited offensively to 34.6 percent (24-of-69) shooting. The Cougars were out-rebounded 42-37 but won the offensive boards battle 17-10. Seven of the Cougars' offensive rebounds came in the overtime session as Chicago State kept it close despite making only 3-of-11 attempts from the floor in the extra period. The Broncs were 2-of-3 from the floor, all 3-point attempts, in overtime and added a 4-of-4 performance from the free throw line to out-score the Cougars 10-7.
The game featured 12 ties and nine lead changes. Chicago State held a 14-4 advantage in fast break points. With the loss, the Cougars have now lost five consecutive overtime games. The Cougars' last overtime win was Jan. 21, 2012 98-95 over Houston Baptist.
UTPA improves to 7-19 (3-8 WAC) while the Cougars fall to 10-13 (5-4 WAC). The Cougars head to New Mexico State on Saturday.
