Dragons outlast Golden Tigers in OT

2/3/2018 7:54:00 PM

Josh Lemons

JACKSON, Tenn. (February 3, 2018) - Refuse to lose.

You've seen that mantra played out by this year's Lane College men's basketball squad all year long but if you wanted to see a perfect example of that motto play out in person, all you had to do was be inside JF Lane Gymnasium at the end of regulation Saturday evening.

The Dragons trailed Tuskegee University for the majority of the second half, taking a one-point lead with just under a minute to go, only to lose that lead a mere 24 seconds later. After a Golden Tiger free throw extended the lead to two, Lane College had a chance to win it with a three. The three from the wing was long but, just like all season, junior forward Kendarius Ash was in the right place at the right time to tip back in the ball as the buzzer sounded, giving Lane College new life with an extra five minutes to play. Lane College made the most of the extra frame, picking up a 66-62 win.

Dragons head coach Bryanth Basemore said that play just epitomizes the type of player Ash is.

"You talk about a guy that just refuses to lose," Basemore said. "Hats off to him and his heart and his effort that he displays night in and night out."

Basemore said the heart and hustle exhibited by Ash matches the same of every player on the team. Decimated by injury, the latest coming when it was announced that last week's SIAC Newcomer of the Week Terrace Holt is out for the season with an injury, the Dragons bench is thin. Everyone is expected to play more minutes and everyone is expected to contribute on both sides of the ball. Basemore said he is confident his squad is up for the task.

"Right now they understand that it's next man up," Basemore said. "We don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves. As you can see we play really aggressive defense so we definitely can't take a step back on the defensive end of the floor and allow teams to just drive and penetrate and do what they want because we are afraid of fouling.

"Since I have been here we have been an aggressive bunch defensively. That's what we hang our hat on and we are going to continue to push that no matter if there are six or seven total on the team. We are still going to still stay aggressive and at the end of the day we think our pressure will overcome the other team's offense."

Ash finished with a season-high 27 points and 27 rebounds. He also had seven assists, one block and one steal. Brandon Dansoh dropped in 11 points and Ai'Shontis Sanders added 10 including a big 3-pointer to give the Dragons a four-point lead at the beginning of overtime.

Lane College has a big turnaround as they host Miles College on Monday, a team they lost by a basket back on Jan. 20. The team hasn't forgot that loss. But in the meantime, Coach Basemore said there is one big thing he needs his team to do to prepare for the Golden Bears.

"They gotta rest," Basemore said.