(CAMBRIDGE, Mass.) – Hans Miersma hit a free throw with no time remaining on the clock to send Gordon College to a thrilling 62-61 victory over the Lesley University Lynx in non-conference men's basketball action at Buckingham, Browne, & Nichols (BBN) gymnasium Tuesday night in Cambridge. With the loss the Lynx fall to 3-6 on the season while the Fighting Scots improve to 4-4.
With 31-seconds remaining and the game tied 61-61, Gordon came out of their final timeout and would miss their initial attempt at the game winning shot but, Miersma grabbed the offensive board and, in an attempt at one last shot, drew a foul simultaneously as the clock ran out. After a brief discussion by the officials, Miersma was awarded two free-throws-- draining the first to close out the victory for Gordon.
It was a hard loss to swallow for the Lynx after battling back from a 10-point second half deficit. In total, four different players reached double figures for Lesley. Mike Kaufman (Boca Raton, Fla.) led the way for the Lynx with a team high 12 points, while Justin Rosa (East Brunswick, N.J.), Brian Glodowski (Roseville, Calif.), and Matt Gibson (Quincy, Mass.) all finished with 10-points a piece.
In the first half, neither team led by more than five points. A lay-up by Matt Gianoni (Berlin, Conn.) with six seconds to play in the first tied the game at the halftime score of 25-25—the eighth tie of the half.
The Lnyx took an early 30-29 lead in the second half, but a three by Gordon's Park Thomas sparked a 16-5 run that would see the Fighting Scots open up a game high 10-point lead (45-35) with 13-minutes remaining.
Despite the deficit the Lynx continued to battle hard on the defensive end. With the Lynx pressing, Gibson stole the ball and found Rosa, who finished an old fashion 3-point play to cut the lead to seven (45-38).
Two free-throws by Gordon put the Fighting Scots back up by nine, but Gibson continued to will his team back; drawing a foul and hitting both free throws, stealing the subsequent inbounds pass and finishing a quick lay-up to cut the lead to five (47-42). Kaufman followed with a steal of his own and a 3-pointer to cut the lead to three (47-44) and then Gibson took over.
He finished and old fashion 3-point play to tie the game, and then in the midst of a full-court press on the inbounds play, stole the ball and drained a 3-pointer to put the Lynx up 50-47 with 8:43 to play. It was a 15-2 run in which Gibson scored all ten of his points to pull the Lynx back into the game.
Lesley would stretch their lead to seven (54-47) with just over five minutes to play but the Fighting Scots would not lie down.
A jumper by Taylor Bajema and a 3-pointer from Tom Hurley cut the lead two. Rosa put the Lynx back up by four (56-52) with a pair of free-throws but Gordon answered right back with a seven straight points to take a 59-56 lead with less than two minutes remaining.
On the ensuing Lesley possession, Kaufman drew a foul, hitting both free throws, and Glodowski stole the ball on the inbounds and quickly finished a lay-up to give the Lynx a 60-59 lead with 1:28 to play.
David Dempsey responded for the Gordon on their next trip down the floor, draining a mid-range jumper to put the Fighting Scots back up 61-60. The Lynx came back down the floor and missed their shot but, after a Fighting Scot timeout, Lesley drew a loose ball foul, sending Rosa to the line. He would hit the first free-throw to tie the game at 61, but his second would rattle off the rim leaving Gordon with the final possession and eventual game winner from the line.
Dempsey led the Fighting Scots with a team high 18-points to go along with 9 rebounds. Miersma finished with the games only double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds), while Thomas rounded out the scoring highlights for Gordon with 15 points.
In total, the game would play host to 12 ties and five lead changes. The Fighting Scots held a decisive advantage on the glass finishing with 50 rebounds to Lesley's 33. Gordon shot 37.9 percent from the floor while Lesley finished 31 percent from the floor. The Lynx were impressive from the line finishing 21-25 while Gordon converted 14 of 20 from the charity stripe.
The Lynx return to action on Saturday when they welcome non-conference foe Endicott College for a 1 p.m. tip-off Saturday afternoon at BBN in Cambridge.
