OLLU News
Jack Hank (left) and Assistant Coach Corey Cornish honor Justin Porter before his last home game.
Fri, Feb 26, 2010 - [Men's Basketball] - by Patricia Constantin
Freshman forward Dionelle Rucker logged his seventh double-double of the season and senior Justin Porter played his last home game of his career to help the Saints pull off the overtime 104-95 win Thursday night against Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU). With the Saints win, and the Thursday night overtime loss by Texas Wesleyan University (TWU) against Huston-Tillotson, the Saints now sit alone at the top of the Red River Conference with a record of 16-3 and 19-9 overall. TWU drops to second place with a record of 15-4, while SAGU drops to eight games behind with a record of 8-11 in the conference and 11-18 overall.
The Saints took a quick 6-0 lead, but after that, they undoubtedly had to fight for every point made against the Lions. SAGU shot up quickly to take the lead away from the Saints at 12-13 with 12 minutes left in the first half. Porter got the lead back after a second-chance 2-pointer, 14-13. Shots by Rucker and Ricardo Zanini put the Saints ahead at 24-17. Eddie Ortiz took the ball down the court for a rare layup and sunk it in to give the Saints a six-point lead, 28-22. The Saints led by as much as 14 points and ended the half with a 12-point lead, 55-43.
Three-pointers from Curtis Bowens Jr. and Zanini increased the Saints' lead to 19, 64-45, with 18 minutes left in the second half. Bowens drove the ball down the court and missed the field goal. Porter grabbed the rebound and the phenomenal slam dunk to give the Saints the 78-58 lead. The Lions began their comeback with three minutes left in the game to come to within one point of the Saints, 90-89. Rucker made a free throw to take the score to 91-89, but Lions' Ronald Horne shot a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the score at 92 taking the game into overtime.
The overtime period began with the Saints shooting first, and after tying the game at 85 with two minutes left, the Saints took over. Shots by Keonte Logan, Rucker, Melanio Ebendeng gave the Saints the win, 104-95, marking the 12th time the Saints have hit the century mark.
Rucker finished with a career-high 37 points, along with 12 rebounds. Zanini contributed 16 points and both Logan and Martinize finished with 10 points each. Porter had eight points and seven rebounds.
In Division I, the Saints are ranked no. 1 in total 3-pointers made (253) and in total scoring offense (2,710) (no. 1 in conference); no. 2 in total steals (353) and offensive rebounds per game (15.533); no. 3 in scoring offense per game (90.333) (no. 1 in conference); no. 4 in 3-points made per game (8.433); no. 5 in total rebound offense (1,233) (no. 1 in conference); no. 6 in total assists (492) and steals per game (11.767); and no. 8 in turnover margin (4.533).
The Saints will play their last regular season game on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Texas Wesleyan. The Saints beat TWU during their last meeting, 85-66. The game will determine who will finish the season as no. 1 in conference and the no. 1 seed in the conference tournament that begins March 4.
Athletic Links
The OLLU Saints Athletics Web site
is managed by Patty Constantin,
news and sports information officer.
Office: 210-434-6711, ext. 2373
Mobile: 210-324-8576
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