SALISBURY, N.C. – In a game that saw 16 ties and 17 lead changes, the Apprentice School closed out its 2010 portion of the schedule with an impressive 86-84 overtime victory over Livingstone College on Sunday afternoon.
The first half saw the Builders hold the lead for the majority of the first 20 minutes, but nothing too comfortable. A pair of Isaih Harrison free throws with 7:27 left gave the Builders a 24-19 advantage, but that was quickly erased as a Darius Cox dunk put the hosts up 26-24 with 5:24 left.
Apprentice School regained the advantage on a Steve Woods free throw with 2:57 left to lead 30-29, but the Blue Bears surged ahead on an Aaron Wilson 3-pointer with 1:24 left to lead 36-32. Latrone Demiel drained a 3-pointer for the Builders to cut the deficit to 36-35 at the half.
The second half was just like the first as the Builders pushed out to a six-point advantage as Demiel drained another 3-pointer to cap a 7-0 run over a 76 second span for a 60-54 lead with 6:09 left. Livingstone wouldn't go away quietly as Wilson drained a 3-pointer with 3:45 left to finish a 10-3 flurry for a 64-63 lead.
In the last 51 seconds it turned into a free throw contest as Harrison hit a pair of free throws to force the 14th tie of the game at 69-all. Cox answered with a pair with 19 seconds left to lead 71-69, but then the teams each went 1-for-2 in the next nine seconds as Livingstone held a 72-70 lead after Trone Jackson hit one with 10 seconds left. The Builders worked the ball inside and Tim Johnson's layup with four seconds left tied the game at 72-all. Livingstone had a shot for the win, but the Builders forced a turnover and the game went into overtime.
In the extra session, the Builders trailed quickly as Cox hit a jumper seven seconds into the five minute period. Apprentice School answered with an 8-2 spurt topped by a Harrison 3-pointer with 2:31 left for an 80-76 advantage. Livingstone scored five points over the next 24 seconds as a Jackson layup with 2:07 left put them ahead 81-80 for what turned into their final lead of the night.
Tevin Andrews' jumper with 1:53 left put the Builders back in front 82-81 and Johnson hit another layup with 77 seconds left to basically ice the game with an 84-81 lead. The Builders used a free throw from Terrence Palmer with 20 seconds left and Joseph Lyons with eight seconds left to lead 86-84. Livingstone's last ditch effort fell short as the Builders forced a turnover at the final horn.
Andrews was the leading scorer for the Builders with 20 points, while Harrison nearly recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high nine assists. Demiel added 13 points with Johnson chipping in 12 points and seven rebounds and Andre Henderson scoring 10 points for the Builders (7-6) who recorded their second win over a NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association team this year.
Apprentice School will next see action on January 8 when they face another NCAA Division II program in Washington Adventist University at 7 pm. The Builders will host Livingstone on January 25 in a 7 pm tip at Apprentice Gym.