Willamantic, CT --- Becker sophomore Rashaun Liggon (Elizabeth, NJ) sank the game-winning points at the free throw line to help pace the Hawks to a 66-64 double-overtime victory over Worcester State in the consolation game of the Eastern Connecticut Tip-Off Tournament at the Geissler Gymnasium.
The Hawks (1-1) were also propelled by senior Tyler Robertson (Irvington, NJ) who poured in a game-best 28 points as he also added 12 rebounds. Junior David Marurah (Windsor Locks, CT) chipped in with 10 points and five boards.
For the second consecutive game, the Lancers (0-2) were led by senior Dane Jobst (Athol, MA). Jobst notched his 20th career double-double with a team-high 27 points and 14 caroms. Junior Brendon Rios (Easthampton, MA) finished with 10 points.
The opening frame was as even as it gets with Worcester State emerging with the 22-20 edge at the intermission. Becker held the largest margin at six points on two occasions which included the 15-9 lead near the halfway point.
The second stanza was more of the same with nine lead changes and four ties over the first 14 minutes of the period.
After a Maturah lay-up and a sophomore Scott Dulaire (Bloomfield, CT) trey, Becker took over the 50-45 lead with 4:10 remaining. Robertson also had a three pointer for the four-point cushion with just under two minutes to play in regulation (54-50).
But the Lancers started a late rally when Jobst canned two free throws with 1:19 left. Sophomore Darius Sealy (Cambridge, MA) also missed the front end with the double bonus to give the Blue and Gold some life with 26 ticks remaining.
The play set the stage for freshman Noris Cuevas-Nova (Amherst, MA) to drill a three-pointer with eight seconds left to tie the score at 55-55 and send the contest into overtime.
In the first extra session, Jobst connected for two points in the paint and senior Jeremy Ross (Holden, MA) added two free throws for the 59-55 edge with 1:42 on the clock. However, Robertson hit back-to-back jump shots to force extra time.
The second frame proved to be a thrilling finale as Robertson continued to stay hot with an early trifecta for the 64-61 advantage. Jobst then matched in response by jacking up his fifth trey of the evening to equalize the score 1½ minutes later.
Each squad missed out on opportunities to score the go-ahead basket over the next few minutes of play, but it was Becker who finished on top when Liggon caught a rebounded three pointer and fouled by the Lancer defense.
Becker feasted off of their opponents 27 miscues with a 25-9 lead in the category (14-0 in second half) while the Lancers were up in second chance points (17-6) and bench scoring (15-7).
The squads were even in rebounding (43-43), but shot poorly from the charity stripe as WSU was 68 percent (17-for-25) and the Hawks were 61 percent (11-for-18).
Both teams play non-conference opponents in the latter half of next week with 7 PM games. Becker renews their Route 56 rivalry with Anna Maria on Thursday while the Lancers head to Gordon for a Friday night affair.