Griffins Fall In Final Seconds Against MacMurray

JACKSONVILLE, Ill.—The Fontbonne University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker in the final seconds against MacMurray on Wednesday, falling 78-76.

With 1:41 left in regulation, Noah Coddington hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to give the Griffins a 76-74 advantage. Then, with 49.0 seconds remaining, Brent Long made his lay-up to tie the game.

After a missed lay-up by the Griffins on the ensuing possession, the Highlanders called a timeout with 15.0 seconds to go. Michael Cameron had the ball at the top of the key and he found Derek Bourke down low, who made his lay-up with 1.8 left on the clock and that was enough for them to go on for the two-point win.

The Griffins (4-18; 2-12 SLIAC), shot 56.5 percent from the field and saw four of its five starters reach double-figures. Jared Woodcock went 8-of-10 from the floor to finish with a team-high 23 points and added eight boards.

Luke DeLine contributed 17 points, while Noah Coddington narrowly had a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Tristan Baker was the final player in double-digits with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

MacMurray (11-11; 7-8 SLIAC), hit 41.6 percent of its shots and out-rebounded the Griffins, 39-30. Kendall Davis had himself a night as he recorded 43 points for the second straight game on 18-of-29 shooting. Long, meanwhile, netted 19 points and grabbed down a game-high 14 points.

In the first half, the Highlanders opened with a 14-8 lead on Long's lay-up at the 14:16 mark. The Griffins responded with a 7-0 run over the next three minutes and 14 seconds to take a 19-14 lead.

MacMurray, though responded and gained the lead back over the next three minutes to lead 28-23 (7:23) on Davis' 3-pointer.

The two teams went back-and-forth the rest of the way, but after Coddington made two free throws near the end of the half, the Highlanders still led, 41-38. Fontbonne shot 55.6 percent from the floor in the first half and were led by Woodcock's 13 points.

Davis was the story for MacMurray and the main reason why they led by three as he went 10-of-17 to finish with 25 points.

In the second half, the Highlanders opened with a 9-2 run in three minutes and 20 seconds time to take a 50-40 lead. Over the next seven minutes, the Griffins continued to chip away at the lead and eventually tied the game at 62-62 on Jahmad Wilburn's lay-up.

Later, the Griffins got the lead at 68-64 on Baker's bucket and maintained its advantage (70-68), with five minutes to go on Woodcock's free throws.

The Highlanders responded with a 6-0 run of its own to take a 74-70 lead at 3:19. Fontbonne scored the next six points in less than two minutes, however, MacMurray accounted for the final four and went on for the 78-76 victory.

The Griffins return to action at home on Saturday against Iowa Wesleyan on Senior Day. Tip-off at 12 p.m. Prior to the game, the team will honor James Wiggins.

Fans make sure to stay updated on fontbonnegriffins.com throughout the year for full updates and recaps on the men's basketball team.