Austin, Texas - In a game with 17 different lead changes, the Western New Mexico University's Men's Basketball forced triple overtime in the Recreation and Athletics Center in Austin, TX, as the St. Edward Hilltoppers come up on top 111-108. The Mustangs are now 9-6 on the year and 2-3 in LSC play. 

The Mustangs were down by 11 in the first half before fighting back leading late in the second half before SEU would tie things up at 77-77.

Joshuwan Johnson (Phoenix, AZ/Maricopa High School) and Jordan Doss (Chicago, Ill./Chicago Hope Academy) got the offense going in overtime. Doss would make some great layups and J. Johnson would hit a three with 1.4 seconds left to give the Mustangs the lead 92-89. Bennett Mohn would send a prayer up and would make the deep three to tie the game up at 92-92 and force double overtime.

In double overtime, there wasn't much offense for either team but free throws made the difference. The Hilltoppers would go up 98-96 with 8 seconds left before J. Johnson was fouled beyond the arc. With a chance to win the game, J. Johnson would make 2 of 3 and force triple overtime at 98-98.

The Mustangs were up by four points on two separate occasions in the third overtime. St. Edward's wouldn't give up and take the lead with 2:22 left. SEU's Blake Nielsen would hit a three to put them up by four points. The mustangs didn't give up as J. Johnson and Doss would rally back and eventually tie the game at 108-108 with 17 seconds left. The Hilltopper's Daniel Venzent would put up a floater and draw a foul putting the Hilltoppers up 111-108.

Five Mustangs would score in double-figures. J. Johnson would lead all Mustang scorers with 22pts. Doss had 21pts, Malik Johnson (Wytheville, Virginia/George Wythe High School) finished with 20pts, Tony Avalos (Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS) with 19pts, and Olamide Pedersern had a double-double with 12pts and 19 rebounds.

In the first half, the Mustangs shot 40.6% (13-32), 15.4% (2-13) from three, and 66.7% (8-12) from the free throw line. St. Edward's shot 46.7% (14-30), 31.3% (5-16) from three, and 90.9% (10-11) from the free throw line. SEU went into the half leading 43-36.

In the second half, the Mustangs shot 40%, was 60% from three but got to the free throw line 21 times, converting on 18. 

WNMU would end up shooting 42.3% (33-78), 28% on 3FG (7-25), and 79.5% for free throws (35-44).

Foul trouble hurt both teams going forward as Avalos and Amarion Cash (Phoenix, AZ/Mountain Pointe HS) fouled out in the second half. St. Edward's had two critical players foul out in the second half as well. WNMU ended with 31 person fouls as the Hilltoppers ended with 27. 

The Mustangs led in rebounds 52 to 49. Olamide Pedersen (Bronshoj, Denmark /Sunrise Christian Academy) led all plates with 19 rebounds, having 11 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive rebounds. 

Despite playing nearly another half of basketball, turnovers were limited. The
Mustangs had 15, as for the Hilltoppers, they had 11. Both teams scored 14pts off of turnovers. 

The Mustangs bench outscored the SEU's bench 38-28, mostly due to J. Johnson and Pedersen's performances.

St. Edward's Notable Players:

Daniel Venzant: 35pts, (10-26 FG), 5 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk

Uche Dibiamaka: 25pts, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk

Bennet Mohn: 12pts, 2 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk

Luke Pluymen:  11pts, 1 reb

Blake Nielsen: 9pts, 13 reb, 3 ast

PLAYERS TO HIGHLIGHT:

J. Johnson: 22pts (10-11 FT), 3 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl

J. Doss: 21pts, 5 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl

M. Johnson: 20pts (7-9 FT), 5 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl

T. Avalos: 19pts (9-12 FT), 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl

O. Pedersen: 12pts, 19 reb, 1 ast, 4 blk

The (9-6) Mustangs will play against St. Mary's on Saturday for a 3:0pm MT in the Bill GreeHey Arena, in San Antonio, TX.

This game recap is presented by First American Bank. First American Bank is a proud supporter of WNMU Athletics!  

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 Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (Twitter & Instagram).