Lions Fall to Brevard on Buzzer Beater

BREVARD, N.C.-- Gerel Simmons hit a three as time expired to lift Brevard to a 91-90 victory over Mars Hill in South Atlantic Conference action at Boshamer Gymnasium Saturday evening.

The Lions fought back from a ten-point deficit to tie the game and set the stage for a back-and-forth final five minutes. With the score tied at 82-apiece with 4:55 to play, the two teams traded baskets until Daron Guyton's old-fashioned three-point play gave Mars Hill an 87-86 lead with 1:54 remaining. A driving lay-up by Kevin Haynes pushed the MHC lead to three before a jumper by Manzey Miller cut the score to 89-88 with a minute left in the contest. A steal by Guyton with six seconds left put Will White at the line, who hit a free throw to push the MHC lead to 90-88 with four seconds left on the clock. Simmons' three just beat the buzzer and sent the Tornados home with the victory.

Guyton paced Mars Hill with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Khouraichi Thiam notched a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Witherspoon added 17 points and hit five threes, while James Fields added 12 points and White chipped in with 11 and eight rebounds. The Lions connected on 49.3 percent from the field (34-of-69) and 13-of-28 from three-point range (46.4 percent).

Dominique Pickett led Brevard with 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting and added nine assists and six rebounds. Simmons scored 22 points and was a 3-of-3 from distance. Miller added 14 points, while Miles Leathers added 13. Brevard shot 63 percent from the field (34-of-54) and 48 percent (12-of-25) from three-point range.

Brevard opened up a 10-point lead with a 14-4 run that spanned the last 53 seconds of the first half to 18:02 remaining in the second half. Simmons and Miller each hit threes, and Leathers scored six points to key the run which ended with the Tornados holding a 54-44 advantage.

The Lions rallied with a 12-2 run to take the lead with 5:57 to play in the second half. With Mars Hill trailing 74-66 with 9:27 to play, White started the run with a free throw and a layup. A jumper by Pickett momentarily stopped the run before MHC ripped off nine straight. Lay-ups by Thiam and Guyton and a jumper by White cut the deficit to one before Guyton found Witherspoon for a three to give the Lions a 78-76 lead with 5:57 to play.

A Pickett jumper knotted the score back up before Guyton regained the lead for Mars Hill with a three. Pickett answered with another bucket before a Thiam free throw made the score 82-80 in favor of MHC. Alex Moe's lay-in tied the score at 82 and set the stage for the tight finish.

Mars Hill will travel to Greenwood, S.C. for a non-conference matchup against Lander on Monday, Dec. 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.