Trojans defeat Pratt 80-78 in overtime for first conference win

It has been somewhat of a tough season for the Colby Community College men’s basketball team, and it appeared it was going to get tougher. Twice the Trojans appeared to have Pratt beaten, but twice Pratt was able to tie the score.

In overtime, The Trojans took a 73-72 lead on an Anthony Rohr lay-up with a minute remaining, and extended the lead to five on Aireus Stephenson free-throws. But Pratt hit back-to-back three pointers, including one by Michael Tyler with just four seconds remaining. But on the ensuing in-bounds pass, Erick Peguero heaved the ball to the other end of the court to teammate Shamar Acuay, who finished with a lay-up. Acuay’s lay-up gave the Trojans an 80-78 victory.

Acuay finished with a team-leading 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 steals. Charleston Smith had 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, Stephenson had 13 points, Derrick Thomas had 11 points and 3 assists, and Peguero had 7 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The Trojan men led most of the second half, and led by three with just 1.6 seconds in regulation.

The Trojans fouled Pratt guard Brett Crittenden, who made the first free-throw and intentionally missed the second. The Trojans failed to effectively block out Pratt forward and leading scorer Michael Tyler, who took the missed free-throw and laid it in to tie the game as time expired.

In the first half, the Trojans rallied from an early nine-point deficit. CCC trailed 18-27 with 8:47 remaining, but went on an 8-0 run keyed by an Acuay steal and dunk.