BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. - The St. Francis Brooklyn men's basketball team closed out its final three game homestand of the regular season, facing Sacred Heart for the second time.
The Saturday afternoon match-up was St. Francis's annual Levi Bough Trailblazer Game, named in honor of the program's first Black men's basketball player. SFC honored Athletic Hall of Famer Jerome Williams ('76) with the third yearly Trailblazer Award for his contributions to the College on and off the court.
This meeting would be anything but regular, however. With 17 lead changes, an hour delay in the first half, and the Terrier's overtime period of the season, something was in the air in Daniel Lynch '38 Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
After Michael Cubbage willed the Terriers to OT, the Pioneers (8-14, 4-7 NEC) were able to outscore SFBK 11-7 in the extra period and take the win over St. Francis (7-16, 3-7 NEC), 66-61.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michael Cubbage dished the ball to Patrick Emilien in opening minute for the first points of the game.
Neither team was able to separate itself through the first twelve minutes, as the game hit the under-8 media timeout tied 14-14. Cubbage led all scorers to that point with five points.
The Terriers stretched out to their largest lead of the game, just four points, on Larry Moreno's second basket of the day. They led 20-16 with 5:23 to play.
On the following possession, Vuk Stevanic was called for his first foul, sending the Pioneers' Nico Galette to the line. He converted 1-2 from the line, to shore the SFBK lead to 20-17.
Those were the last points for more than hour, as the game was suspended due to an active fire alarm. After the New York Fire Department worked to clear the source of the alarm, players returned to the floor to play the remaining 3:47 of the first half.
Galette made it three points in a row as play resumed, scoring the first basket back from the delay, and getting Sacred Heart within one point of the lead. He gave the Pioneers a 21-20 lead on the next possession, 21-20, with 2:03 to play.
Rob Higgins capped off a quick 5-0 run to put the Terriers up 25-21 with 1:14 remaining. Sacred Heart scored the final points of the half, but the Terriers led at halftime, 27-25.
Neither team was able to create separation in the opening six minutes of the second half, with Alex Watson giving the Pioneers a 40-38 lead with 13:56 to play.
The Terriers clawed back with an 8-0 run, half of those points scored by Emilien. St. Francis had its largest lead of the game to that point, 46-40, with 11:27 remaining.
SFBK maintained its advantage in to the final seven minutes of regulation. After nearly two minutes without a basket for either team, Cubbage picked Galette's pocket, powered to the basket and slammed the ball home, drawing a foul in the process.
The dunk gave the Terriers their largest lead of the game, 53-44, with 6:47 to go.
Sacred Heart found their footing in the post over the final minutes of the second half, and rattled off 11 unanswered points to take a 55-53 to the final seconds of regulation.
The Pioneers' Tyler Thomas missed the front end of a one-and-one with nine seconds remaining, with Cubbage hauling in the defensive rebound and giving the Terriers the final possession.
The ball was in Cubbage's hands at the other end, who battled for separation spun and fell away for a shot from the free throw line as time expired. The ball hit the bottom of the net as time expired, giving the Terriers new life, and tying the game at 55 all to force overtime.
Tedrick Wilcox Jr. scored the first points of overtime to put SFBK up 57-55.
SHU answered with seven consecutive points to take a 62-57 lead with 1:13 remaining in overtime.
St. Francis would get within two points in the final five seconds of the extra period on a three ball that secured Cubbage's second consecutive 20-point game. The Terriers trailed 64-62 with five seconds to go.
The Terriers were forced to foul to get the ball back, and put the game out of reach as the Pioneers secured the OT win, 66-62.
TEAM LEADERS
Michael Cubbage made it two games a row within one point of his career high, finishing with 20 points again. He was one rebound shy of a double-double; grabbing nine boards and adding three assists and three steals.
Patrick Emilien tailed Cubbage with 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block.
Larry Moreno added nine points, two assists and two steals.
NEXT UP: The Terriers cross Flatbush Ave. on Thursday night for the 2022 Battle of Brooklyn against LIU at the Steinberg Wellness Center. The game will stream live on ESPN3.
