CLEVELAND, OH – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team defeated Case Western Reserve University 89-84 in overtime in the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament Friday evening in Cleveland. The Cru improved to a record of 28-2 on the season while the Spartans fell to 20-7 to close out their season.
 
Case Western Reserve went on an early eight-point run to take an 8-2 lead. UMHB answered with a six-point run by Ty Prince to knot-up the contest at the 17:15 mark. The Spartans inched away, creating a seven-point advantage before the Cru used a 10-3 run to create a 22-22 game with ten minutes remaining. UMHB took the lead with a three-pointer from Josiah Johnson at the 8:28 mark. CWRU went on a 9-0 run but Carson Hammond responded with back-to-back scores to cut the gap to two with a minute remaining. The Spartans claimed a layup with two seconds remaining, going into the break ahead 41-37.
 
The Spartans jumped to a quick 12-point lead to begin the second half. Nathan Stolz used a basket behind the arc at the 15:34 mark to spark a seven-point run to cut the advantage to four. The contest remained even with the Cru tying it up 64-64 with seven minutes remaining. Luke Feely knotted the contest with a layup at 1:08, but the Spartans drained four foul shots to lead by four with two seconds left. Hammond was fouled on the inbound and sunk both shots to take the Cru into overtime 75-75.
 
Overtime action proceeded in even play with the advantage remaining less than three until the final minute. Josiah Johnson scored the equalizer with 57 seconds left before netting the go-ahead three at 0:10. Hammond stole the inbound and drained a pair of foul shots with five seconds remaining. On CWRU's final effort, Johnson created another turnover, stealing the inbound and securing the win with two free throws. UMHB claimed the 89-84 victory to continue its run in the tournament.
 
Prince led the Cru with 27 points while Johnson added 23 to the Cru's total 89. UMHB totaled 33 rebounds led by Prince with seven while Feely and Stolz claimed six each. The Cru caused 26 turnovers for CWRU, including 16 steals, led by Johnson with seven.
 
UMHB will return to action in the NCAA quarterfinals Saturday, March 12^th at 7:00 PM (CST) in a contest against Elmhurst in Cleveland.