Lions survive Pitt State in 2OT

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Globe/Kellen Jenkins Missouri Southern's Jordan Talbert (right) looks to pass the ball away from Pittsburg State's Courtney Ingram (left) and Sam Pugh Wednesday night at MSSU's Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Globe/Kellen Jenkins Missouri Southern's Marquis Addison gets a jump shot off against Pittsburg State's Courtney Ingram Wednesday night at MSSU's Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Globe/Kellen Jenkins Missouri Southern's Christian Salecich (center) takes a three point shot between Pittsburg State's Drake Green (left) and Marky Nolen Wednesday night at MSSU's Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Globe/Kellen Jenkins Missouri Southern's Christian Salecich takes a three point shot over Pittsburg State's Courtney Ingram Wednesday night at MSSU's Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

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February 8, 2012

By Jim Henry Globe Sports Editor The Joplin Globe Wed Feb 08, 2012, 11:48 PM CST

Hitting a big shot, then committing a turnover during the final minute of regulation, Marquis Addison went through an emotional roller coaster.

But in the overtime sessions, Addison turned in big play after big play and finished with a career-high 33 points as No. 19 Missouri Southern edged Pittsburg State 96-92 in two overtimes in an MIAA instant classic before 2,516 fans at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

“It was an experience to live for, double overtime game against your rival,” Addison said. “I’m a sophomore, but I know enough about it that it’s a huge game, and it’s a thrill to be a part of it and come out with the win.

Addison, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard, hit 11-of-16 field goals and 10-of-11 free throws for his 33 points. He had 12 points and two of his four steals in the overtimes, and his biggest plays came in the final five minutes.

Addison grabbed an errant pass and drove for a layup and an 87-86 lead with 3:53 left. After holding the Gorillas to one shot, the Lions cashed in a second opportunity when Matt Everson cut backdoor down the left baseline and scored off a pass from Jordan Talbert to make it 89-86 with 2:50 left.

Seconds later Talbert dived on the floor after a loose ball and came up with a steal. The Lions against got two chances as Everson snared an offensive rebound, and Addison, after being fouled as the shot clock went below 10, sank two free throws to make it 91-86 with 1:44 left.

Addison stole the ball in the frontcourt, and after a Talbert offensive rebound, Addison hit two charities for a 93-86 lead with 1:01 to play. He hit two more free throws with 38 seconds left, and Patrick Hester’s free throw with 13.5 seconds left gave the Lions a four-point lead.

“The first half I didn’t have too many steals,” Addison said. “At the end of the game I saw them get tired as well as us. I’m one of the better guys on the team in running the mile, and with Jason (Adams) out (with five fouls), it was my time. I’m glad to get the steals. I saw some lazy passes, and I got in the passing lanes and was able to get the steal.”

“Marquis’ steal was huge, and he stepped to the line and made his free throws,” Lions coach Robert Corn said. “He’s obviously the guy you want at the line. More important, he wants to be at the line, and our guys understand that. He wants the ball in clutch situations.”

Keane Thomann, who carried the offensive load during the first 10 minutes of the second half, collected with 27 points and 10 rebounds while playing 47 of a possible 50 minutes for the Lions (19-5, 11-5 MIAA). Talbert also notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds in 38 minutes, and Hester contributed 10 points.

“I’m tired,” Corn said, “and I guarantee Jordan and Keane will sleep really good. They played a lot of minutes, and their minutes include a long of banging and pushing on the inside. They have to be really tired.”

Guard Eric Ray topped the Gorillas (12-11, 8-8) with 22 points, followed by Bailey with 19 plus 12 rebounds, JaVon McGee with 18 and Marky Nolen with 17.

The Lions led 40-37 at halftime and retained the lead most of the second half, but Nolen’s tipin gave PSU a 75-74 lead with 1:03 left in regulation.

On the Lions’ ensuing possession, Christian Salecich drove the ball to the baseline and found Addison alone at the top of the circle, and his shot hit nothing but net for a two-point lead with 42 seconds left.

Adams, going for a steal near midcourt, fouled Drake Green with 27.3 seconds on the clock. Green hit both ends of the 1-and-1 for a 77-77 tie.

Addison lost control of the ball as he attempted to drive down the lane, and the ball went out of bounds to PSU with 3.9 seconds left. Ray dribbled upcourt but his long shot bounded off the backboard at the buzzer.

“Coach told me don’t let it get in my head,” Addison said. “I knew we had five minutes left to go. We wanted to come out and play the best we could with the time we had.”

The Gorillas led 82-79 just over a minute into the firstovertime, but the Lions tied it 84-84 when Addison scored after grabbing a deflected ball with 1:40 left. Both teams then had turnovers in the final 30 seconds.

“The biggest thing in that game was having two opportunities to win it, at the end of regulation and at the end of the first overtime and not getting that done,” PSU coach Kevin Muff said. “I think fatigue set in a little bit in that second overtime, and Marquis Addison was spectacular. Thomann did a great job the second half. It took us a while to make an adjustment on him. Having Jason (Adams) foul out was definitely a plus for us, but they found a way. I think their depth in rotations was a little better than ours down the stretch.”

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Lions survive Pitt State in 2OT

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