MANKATO, Minn. - Trailing by one with four seconds left in overtime, Bethany men's basketball went the length of the court and Max Briggs hit a corner three in front of the home bench as time expired, sending North Gym into a frenzy as the Vikings won 82-80 over UW-River Falls.
Bethany held its largest lead of 17 points three times early in the second half, but the Falcons clawed their way back to gain a 70-65 advantage with 46 left in regulation. Jack Brockmann made a pair of free throws to cut the spread to three with 37 seconds and then a three-pointer by Brady Ingersoll tied the game with 26 seconds on the clock. River Falls missed a jumped at the buzzer and the game was sent to overtime.Â
The lead swapped sides six more times in the extra five minutes. The Vikings held a 77-73 lead after a Will Walter trey, but the Falcons responded with 7-2 run, capped by a pair of free throws, to take an 80-79 lead with four seconds left. Amory Peterson in-bounded the ball to Brockmann, who handed it off to Brady Ingersoll. Ingersoll then crossed half court and found Briggs open in front of the Vikings bench who nailed the buzzer-beater.Â
Bethany shot 39.4 percent from the floor, led by Walter with 18 points off the bench, including five threes. Ingersoll added 13 points off the bench and shot 5-for-6 from the field. Blue Smaller and Briggs chipped in 10 points apiece. Brockmann led on the glass with 10 rebounds.Â
The visitors out-rebounded the Vikings 49-36 and made 25-of-33 from the charity stripe.Â
The Vikings (6-3), winners of their last four games, travel to former UMAC rival St. Scholastica next Saturday night.Â
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