Top-ranked MSU upset by Lindsey Wilson 71-70

From staff reports

COLUMBIA, Ky. — The streak is over, and so, likely, is Mountain State’s run as the top team in the nation.

Lindsey Wilson upset NAIA Division I No. 1 Mountain State 71-70 Tuesday night at the Biggers Sports Complex.

Junior guard George White hit a pair of free throws with 26.6 seconds left to give the Blue Raiders the win. That ended the Cougars’ school-record 24 game win streak to start the season.

Tyrice Watkins missed what would have been a game-winning three-pointer as time expired after MSU had battled from behind for most of the night.

“We were trying to take a charge there, but they called it a block,” MSU coach Bob Bolen said of the foul that sent White to the line. “Lindsey Wilson played well and we didn’t play a particularly well. It’s hard to win on the road.”

MSU entered the game averaging just under 95 points per game.

MSU led by one, 70-69, after Jason McGriff, who had a game-high 25 points, rattled the rim with a slam dunk at the 47.3 mark.

McGriff finished the night hitting 9-of-12 from the field.

James Spencer, No. 2 in the NAIA in scoring, had 21.

Lindsey Wilson was led by White’s 24 and Donte Williams had 20.

MSU trailed by three points at the break, 40-37, after Lindsey Wilson reeled off the final seven points of the first half.

The Blue Raiders extended that lead to eight, their biggest of the night, 50-42 with 15:46 left.

But the Cougars fought back with an 11-1 run over the next 4:18 to take a 53-52 lead.

White and Williams hit back-to-back threes to give Lindsey a 64-58 lead with 6:41 remaining, but again MSU battled back, with McGriff’s slam giving MSU its last lead.

Lindsey Wilson outrebounded the Cougars 37-30, despite a 10-rebound night from McGriff.

It was the 12th straight home victory for the Blue Raiders, who were coming off a 42-point drubbing at No. 2 Georgetown Saturday. Georgetown, likely the new No. 1, is the last undefeated team in the NAIA.

The Cougars will have a week to mull over the loss.

MSU returns home next Tuesday when it host Independent Region rival Voorhees at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

MOUNTAIN STATE UNIVERSITY (24-1)

James Spencer 7-17 3-5 21, Jarvis Jackson 2-5 0-0 4, Tyrice Watkins 3-4 0-0 7, Adron Marshall 4-10 0-0 9, Jason McGriff 9-12 7-9 25, Ralph Legg 1-3 0-0 2, Denzel Lyles 0-0 0-0 0, Ricky Jackson 0-1 1-2 1, Rod Green 0-1 0-0 0, Ermin Tarcin 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 26-53 12-18 70.

LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE (16-9)

Tim Labka 4-8 0-0 8, Sam Walton 3-8 0-0 6, Quintez Thomas 3-8 3-4 9, George White 8-15 4-4 24, Donte Williams 7-13 2-2 20, Stefan Juzbasic 0-2 2-2 2, Antonio Logwood 0-3 0-0 0, Jeff Vories 1-2 0-0 2, Marcus Ceasar 0-3 0-0 2, Sean Jackson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 26-63 11-12 71.

Halftime: Lindsey Wilson 40-37. Three-point goals: MSU 6-16 (Spencer 4-8, Watkins 1-2, Marshall 1-4, McGriff 0-1, Legg 0-1); LWC 8-21 (Labka 0-1, Thomas 0-2, White 4-8, Williams 4-8, Logwood 0-2). Rebounds: MSU 30 (McGriff 10); LWC 37 (Walton 9). Assists: MSU 10 (Jarvis 4); LWC 13 (Quintez 6). Fouls: MSU 11; LWC 14. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None.