DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Dontrell McQuarter's dunk with 0.4 seconds remaining was enough to see Alcorn fight past Bethune-Cookman 76-74 in a key Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Men's Basketball game on Saturday night at Richard V. Moore Gymnasium.
Bethune-Cookman (6-16, 5-7 SWAC) led 70-64 with 3:33 left in the game following a three-pointer from Dhashon Dyson.
That was part of a 15-2 run by the Wildcats, after the hosts trailed 62-55 with just 7:42 showing on the clock.
However, Alcorn (13-11, 10-2 SWAC) showed why they're the defending SWAC Regular Season Champions, and the current top team in the league down the stretch.
Dekedran Thorn knocked down a pair of free throws with 3:04 remaining – two of the Braves 10 made foul shots on the night, to cut into the Wildcats' lead at 70-66. BCU's Zion Harmon was only able to convert 1-of-2 from the charity stripe at the other end, allowing Braves point guard Byron Joshua to cut into the lead even further with a driving layup with under two minutes to go.
After Jeremiah Kendall put a tip-in back off a miss from Joshua to bring the visitors to within 71-70, it was Bethune-Cookman's Kevin Davis connecting on a jumper just inside the paint to keep the Cats up 73-70 with 1:18 remaining. He would hit the free throw to complete the three-point play and push the BCU lead out to 74-70.
Seconds later, it was Joshua knifing through the paint once again for a layup to cut the lead at 74-72. Joshua would finish the night with 15 points.
A Marcus Garrett turnover was followed on the other end by yet another Joshua layup in traffic, knotting the game at 74-74 with 40 seconds left.
Dyson had a good look at a potential game-winning shot for the Wildcats, but the jumper was off the back iron, allowing Dontrell McQuarter to collect the rebound with six seconds remaining.
Despite having fouls to give, the Wildcats elected to play aggressive defense, but it was Joshua making his way past the full-court press and into the Alcorn offensive half. The Maroon and Gold batted a Kendall jumper out of bounds, allowing Alcorn one last shot.
McQuarter cut around his man on defense, accepting the lob at the basket from Joshua for the game-winner with 0.4 seconds remaining. The ensuing play from the Cats was thrown out of play and snapped what had been two games won on the trot at home for Reggie Theus and his side.
BCU led 33-32 at the half behind 11 first-half points from Joe French, including three (3) three-pointers. The Wildcats shot 37.5 percent from three-point territory in the opening frame.
But it would be free throws on the night and turnovers, with the Wildcats converting just 7-of-12 at the foul line, and being forced into 13 turnovers. Alcorn would score 13 points off those BCU turnovers, as well as outscoring the Wildcats 42-22 in the paint.
Alcorn was led by five players in double-figures, including Oddyst Walker and Joshua, with 15 points each. Kendall supplied the Braves with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Thorn and Keondre Montgomery posted 11 points apiece. Ladarius Marshall had a big seven points and eight rebounds for the Braves off the bench.
For Bethune-Cookman, Davis finished as the top scorer with 18 points and six rebounds. French had 17 points, and Garrett tallied 12 points and eight rebounds.
Alcorn returns to the court on Monday, Feb. 13, traveling to Florida A&M University. The game is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT/ 7:30 p.m. ET.
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