MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Every time Millersville looked staggered and on the ropes,
Khari Williams delivered a counterpunch to keep the Marauders in the game. The Marauders' senior scored a career-high 39 points to help Millersville survive an overtime-forcing buzzer-beater and outlast Virginia Union 97-88 in double overtime.
Williams scored 16 of his points in the two overtime periods, 11 of which came as Millersville outscored Virginia Union 20-9 in the second overtime. Williams made two game-tying 3-pointers in the extra sessions.
Caden Najdawi totaled 18 points and 13 rebounds for his 20th career double-double, and it was his free throw with 3.5 seconds remaining in the first overtime that tied the score at 77-77 and extended the game.
The win improved Millersville to 5-0 while Virginia Union (4-2), fresh off winning the Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off, had its four-game winning streak snapped.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The game featured 16 lead changes and 13 ties, but Millersville led 67-62 following a pair of
James Sullivan free throws with nine seconds remaining in regulation. Yet miraculously, Virginia Union scored five points in the game's final second. Tyriek Railey hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 0.9 seconds left on the clock. Sullivan was fouled immediately on the inbounds pass but missed both free throws. Virginia Union grabbed the rebound and called timeout with 0.6 seconds remaining. With the full length of the court to go, Railey heaved a long pass down the sideline and hit Tajh Harding in stride. Harding immediately released the shot and swished the ball through as time expired.
• In the first overtime, Millersville trailed 76-73 with 43 seconds remaining.
Jaden Faulkner found Williams in the corner for a game-tying three. Virginia Union's Devon Sims drew a shooting foul with 20 seconds left. He missed the first but made the second. The Marauders nearly turned the ball over on the ensuing possession but with 3.5 seconds left had the ball out just in front of the Millersville bench. Millersville looked for Najdawi on the block, and he was fouled from behind. Najdawi missed the first but sank the second. Keleaf Tate's half-court 3-pointer hit the rim, extending the game another five minutes.
• Again, Virginia Union pushed to a quick three-point lead after a triple from Raemaad Wright. Williams, however, drilled another clutch 3-pointer to tie the game. One minute later, after a Najdawi free throw and back-to-back defensive stops, Williams knocked down his sixth 3-pointer of the game for an 86-82 lead. While Virginia Union managed to pull within two on the next possession, Millersville did enough at the free throw line and got stops on four of the next five Virginia Union possessions. With 10 seconds left, the Marauders led by four with
Mekhi Hendricks going to the line. Back-to-back technical fouls on Virginia Union coach Jay Butler gave Millersville four additional free throws. Williams made all four from the technical fouls and Hendricks made both of his to seal the Millersville win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• The Marauders held a distinct advantage at the free throw line, making 30-of-45 while Virginia Union earned just 12 free throws and made six. Williams made 13-of-17 from the line.
• Of Millersville's 30 points in the overtime periods, 17 came at the foul line. Millersville shot 5-of-9 from the field, and Williams made all three of the team's 3-pointer attempts.
• Faulkner finished with 16 points and seven assists. Sullivan scored 13 points.
• Virginia Union became the first team this season to out-rebound Millersville, holding a 52-45 edge on the glass.
POSTGAME REACTION FROM COACH CASEY STITZEL
• On beating a good team but not playing your best basketball: "We are making some plays that an older group shouldn't be making. It's early in the season but we have high expectations. We have to clean that up. Down the stretch, we made three mistakes, and if we don't make even one of them, the game doesn't go to overtime. But two years ago, we lose that game in overtime. I didn't sub much tonight so those guys gutted it out. Virginia Union is a very good team with a chance to win the CIAA. You don't get upset with a win, but you want to have high enough expectations to know you have to fix some things to compete in the PSAC."
• On making defensive stops in the second overtime: "It could have been better. It's the first game we've been out-rebounded. We did play a little smaller because of the zone. Defense is our staple. Guys were tired, made stops, and got rebounds in the overtime. We've just got to make foul shots down the stretch and not let teams hang around."
• On the play of Williams: "He's all heart. He's a tough kid. We got on him early in the game, took him out, and he just responds. He is a tough kid with the heart of a lion. He willed us at both ends. We put him on (Tate) a little bit and his size and toughness bothered him a little bit. He's a winning basketball player, and I love him because he lets us coach him. When he's not playing well we can challenge him, and he responds to it. He was unbelievable tonight."
NOTES
• Williams' 39 points were the most by a Marauder since Marcus Adkison's 44 against Clarion on Dec. 2, 2017.
• It was Millersville's first overtime game since Dec. 21, 2019--a 107-102 loss to Cal U.
• Millersville is now 5-4 all-time against Virginia Union, winning each of the last three meetings. Monday's game was the first meeting since 2002.
UP NEXT
• Millersville begins PSAC crossover play on Friday and Saturday, hosting Clarion at 7:30 p.m., on Dec. 3 and Pitt-Johnstown at 3 p.m., on Dec. 4.
