FIU, Nova Southeastern work multiple overtimes in heartbreaking losses

FIU coach Jeremy Ballard – who is in his 18^th season in college basketball – never knew what it meant to take part in a four-overtime game.

Until now.

Host Eastern Michigan defeated FIU 92-88 in four OTs on Saturday. Instead of lasting 40 minutes on the game clock, the contest went a full hour.

“It was like playing three full halves,” Ballard said. “It’s an extremely rare occurrence.

“I’m proud of our effort and fight.”

FIU (8-2) blew a 13-point lead in the final seven minutes of regulation. Eastern Michigan’s Colin Golson Jr. made a layup with 55 seconds left in regulation to send the game to the first extra session.

From there, FIU’s Denver Jones was heroic. He scored seven points in the first OT, including a three-pointer with 40 seconds left that tied the score.

In the second OT, Jones made two free throws to tie the score with 16 seconds left. And, in the third OT, Jones made a layup to tie the score with 31 seconds left. Jones had the last points in each of those first three overtime periods.

FIU made some big stops down the stretch, including Seth Pinkney blocking an Eastern Michigan layup with four seconds left in the second OT.

“That spoke to our grit,” Ballard said.

Adding to the flavor of the game was the presence of George “Iceman” Gervin, a Basketball Hall of Famer who averaged 29.5 points for Eastern Michigan in 1971-72. He was honored during Saturday’s halftime activities as part of “George Gervin Day” at his alma mater.

“I got to shake his hand,” Ballard said. “When you have a legend of that caliber and they honor him, it resulted in a big crowd.”

Those fans got their money’s worth as each team had two reserves play well above 40 minutes.

For FIU, reserve Javaunte Hawkins scored a career-high 22 points in 44 minutes. Jones scored a season-high 20 points – including 11 after regulation – and added a game-high 13 rebounds.

FIU’s Clevon Brown – in his first game back from a knee injury -- led all players with 51 minutes, and he produced 16 points, 11 rebounds and a game-high five blocks. Teammate Tevin Brewer played 47 minutes and had 13 points and a team-high five assists.

However, FIU shot just 3-for-10 in the fourth overtime, and the Panthers struggled to stop Eastern Michigan’s Noah Farrakhan, who had a game-high 29 points.

“We’re disappointed because it was a winnable game,” Ballard said. “It was within our grasp.”

The loss snapped FIU’s program-record eight-game win streak.

“In our first team meeting this season, I told our guys that we were going to do things that have never been accomplished in FIU history,” Ballard said. “We’ve already done a couple of those things, but they don’t give out trophies for an 8-1 start. They don’t give out trophies in December.

“We’ve got more work to do.”

NSU SEASON ENDS

Nova Southeastern University men’s soccer team, which made the NCAA postseason for the first time in program history, went all the way to the Division II national semifinals before losing to California State Los Angeles on Saturday in Colorado Springs, Colo.

There were no goals through regulation and three overtimes – a total of 110 minutes – and the Sharks lost 3-1 in penalty kicks. NSU led 1-0 in PKs, but the Cal State goalie saved three straight Sharks shots to turn the game.

“I’d (bet) my house on my guys (shooting PKs) normally,” NSU coach Matt Watts said.

Cal State LA went on to win the national championship, 1-0.

“They sat in a deep formation against us,” Watts said of Cal State, which didn’t allow a goal in its final three games. “They played negative, defensive football, and it worked. (Cal State) probably knew we were better at possession than they were. My boys controlled the game.”

Indeed, NSU outshot Cal State LA, 19-10.

Watts said his players were exhausted playing in the 6,000-feet elevation of Colorado. However, Watts said several of his players went the entire way, all 110 minutes, showing incredible fitness.

NSU finished its season with a 17-3-3 record, setting a school mark for most wins. NSU went 11-0-1 away from home.

This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 1:18 PM.