Eastern New Mexico takes overtime victory 84-82
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Eastern New Mexico takes overtime victory 84-82

  • 25 February 2006
  • 2 min read

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Eastern New Mexico University freshman Joshua Jackson hit not one but two jumpers with less than two seconds to play to send ENMU to an 84-82 overtime victory against Midwestern State University in Lone Star Conference South play Saturday night.

ENMU (12-15, 6-6) got the first jumper by Jackson as time expired in regulation to force a 76-all tie and send the game to the overtime.

In the extra frame, Jackson 's running jumper with 1.4 seconds remaining broke an 82-all tie and ended the season for MSU (16-11, 5-7).

The heroics by Jackson spoiled a career-night by Midwestern junior Chad Rickett who scored 32 points and dished out five assists. á Rickett hit all nine of his free throws including all five of his attempts in the last two-and-a half minutes of regulation.

MSU junior center Eric Dawson had another stellar night as well, scoring 21 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, collecting four steals and blocking seven shots. á Senior Eddie Rowe closed his season with by tying his season high of 14 points.

Tristan Largent led ENMU with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Jackson added 17 points with six assists and Jolen Montoya chipped in 14 points, hitting 3-of-4 three-pointers.

MSU held a 10-point lead with 17:12 to play only to see the Greyhounds go on a 12-0 run to take the lead.

Eastern was up 72-67 with 3:14 to go when MSU made a comeback with a 7-0 run capped by a traditional three-point play by Rickett with 57.1 seconds left. á But Jackson hit a jumper to tie the game at 74-all with 38.0 seconds to play.

MSU moved the ball upfloor, and got a baseline jumper from senior LaKeith Grant with 5.1 seconds to take a 76-74 lead. á That's when Jackson got his first buzzer beater.

 In overtime, MSU battled from behind to tie the game on a layup and free throw by Eric Dawson with 11.2 remaining. á But ENMU patiently came down floor and found Jackson open for the winner.

ENMU shot 55 percent from the floor and an amazing 11-of-19 from the three-point arc (57.9 percent). á MSU shot 46.8 from the floor, but made only 3-of-18 from the arc.

The loss closes the MSU season as ENMU took the fourth seed from the LSC South with the victory. á It's the first time since the 1998 season that MSU has not qualified for the LSC Tournament.

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