BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 26, 2019) - Falling behind by as many as 12 points, the Lane College men's basketball team slowly clawed their way back into the game, eventually taking their first lead of the night with just over nine minutes left in the game. But that lead was fleeting, as Benedict College would stretch their lead to five points on multiple occasions before Lane took their last and final lead of the night with under two minutes to play, holding on to take a 86-84 win in the first round of the 2019 SIAC Championship Tournament on Tuesday night at the Bill Harris Arena at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Dragons' Head Coach Bryanth Basemore said after the game that even though his team did not have the best night shooting from the floor, it was the defense and the clutch free throws that helped his team overcome and get the win to advance to the next round of the tournament on Tuesday night.

"They found a way to keep fighting and persevere for us and just push us through it," Basemore said. "They willed us to victory today."

Senior forward and three-time SIAC Defensive Player of the Year Kendarius Ash led all scorers with 22 points and 10 rebounds off of 10-of-12 shooting from the field. Ash, who normally relies on his defensive prowess, said when he had to step up on the offensive end it was because he was willing to do whatever it took to help his teammates win and advance.

 "Sometimes they (my teammates) would find me in a spot and I would just put up a shot but however it was coming, I was just taking it as it was coming," Ash said. 

Senior guard and Jackson, Tenn. native Daniel Hill finished just behind his teammate with 21 points on the night including a 17-of-20 performance from the free throw line. Hill made 7-of-8 from the charity stripe in the final minute of the game to keep the lead and seal the victory. Hill said it was after having a conversation with Ash that he realized that the hometown school was going to be a perfect fit for him.

"I met KD and we talked a lot and formed a relationship and we kind of built a relationship off of basketball," Hill said. "And that brought me home. I had a family at home. I really just paid attention to what a special team they are and how they would always tell me what they were missing.

"I just came in and trusted what coach was telling me and I bought in to everything my teammates and coaches were telling me. I just gave it all I've got and did whatever they were telling me to do."

In addition to Ash and Hill, Lucious Brown dropped 15 points including a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe and Lew Johnson added 12 points in the win. As a whole the team was 85 percent from the free throw line, draining 29 of their 34 shots at the stripe.

The Dragons advance to take on Albany State University, the No. 2 seed in the East, on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. CST.

For the guys on the team, especially the seniors, they said they're just thankful for one more game, but hope that it is not their last in this tournament.

"Just one more game," Ash said. Just one more game."