JACKSON, Tenn. - The Lane College Dragons battled through adversity and delivered a thrilling 80-79 overtime victory over Clark Atlanta on Saturday afternoon.
Lane (18-5, 17-5 SIAC) erased a slow start and leaned on its depth and late-game composure to secure the one-point win in front of the home crowd.
Clark Atlanta came out firing, shooting over 64 percent in the first quarter to build a 26-14 advantage. The Panthers controlled the tempo early and extended their lead to as many as 21 points midway through the second quarter.
The Dragons, however, never wavered.
Lane began chipping away behind a dominant performance from Dyani Bernstine, who poured in a game-high 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting while adding 11 rebounds for a double-double. Bernstine was relentless attacking the paint and converting in transition, helping the Dragons trim the deficit to 43-35 at halftime.
Lane found its rhythm in the third quarter, shooting nearly 54 percent from the floor. Kamil Washum knocked down key three-pointers during a pivotal stretch, finishing with 13 points, while Lauren Lain added eight points and seven rebounds. The Dragons outscored Clark Atlanta 23-19 in the period to pull within four heading into the fourth.
The final quarter was a back-and-forth battle featuring multiple lead changes and clutch free throws on both sides. Jahniya Brown's putback tied the game at 58-58 midway through the fourth, and Lane continued to apply pressure defensively. With seconds remaining, Washum drilled a three-pointer to tie the game at 69-69 before Trinity Jones answered at the line to give Clark Atlanta a brief edge. Lain calmly knocked down two free throws with seven seconds left to force overtime at 71-71.
In overtime, Bernstine once again delivered in key moments, scoring inside and converting crucial free throws down the stretch.
Lane dominated the glass, outrebounding Clark Atlanta 48-32, including 25 offensive rebounds that led to 26 second-chance points. The Dragons' bench was also a major factor, contributing 61 points in the win.
Despite shooting 36 percent from the field, Lane's resilience, rebounding edge, and ability to capitalize at the free-throw line (23-of-30) proved to be the difference in a hard-fought SIAC showdown.
