Milwaukee, Wisc. – Scoring the final five points in the second overtime, Cardinal Stritch University (13-12/3-3) came from behind to knock off Judson University (14-7/7-1), 100-97, in double overtime. The loss breaks Judson’s seven game winning streak which was a school record.
Four players were in double figures for Judson with Ilija Bojanic leading the way with a career-high 24 points. Dewayne Robinson had 22, Jusetn Boyd 20, and Steffan Williams 18. Bojanic also led in rebounding with nine. Trey Triplett had 38 for CSU.
In a very physical game that came down to free throws and fouls, Judson missed 16 free throws in the game going 24-of-40. There was also a combined 54 personal fouls called with four Judson players fouling out.
The game also featured several point swings. CSU had as large as a 13-point lead in the first half and Judson was up by 16 with 8:29 left in the game.
In double overtime, JU took a 94-90 lead in the first 1:16 but then the momentum changed when Robinson fouled out of the game when he was called for an offensive foul after missed lay-up with 3:13 to go.
CSU’s Ian Dobbe cut Judson’s lead to two on a jumper but Bojanic put the lead back at three when he made one-of-two from the free throw line. CSU scored on their next possession to come within in one and then tied the game after JU turned the ball over. CSU’s Brandon D’Amico made one-of-two from the line to tie the game at 95 with 1:58 remaining.
Boyd made two free throws with 1:50 remaining for a two-point lead, 97-95, but saw Dobbe tie the game just six seconds later. JU ran 18 seconds off the clock and then missed their jumper with 1:26 left and CSU’s Triplett ran the court to give the lead back the Wolves, 99-97.
With 53 seconds remaining, Judson missed a jumper to tie the game but then received the ball back with 36 seconds left on a CSU turnover. JU had a chance to tie the game with six seconds left but the ball did not fall in the Eagle’s favor as CSU was fouled. They preceded to make one-of-two free throws for a three-point lead. Judson’s last second attempt to tie the game from three-point range fell short.
Taking a six-point lead in the first 3:22, 7-1, CSU played great defense. Judson did not hit their first shot from the floor until the 16:36 mark when Robinson made it 7-3. That triggered an 11-5 run for the Eagles as JU tied the game at 12 on a three-pointer by Williams.
Over the next seven minutes, CSU out scored JU, 18-5, for a large 13-point lead, 30-17. CSU’s Chad Dekker hit a jumper with 6:55 left in the half. What looked like a strong lead for CSU changed over the final seven minutes as JU went on a 17-8 run to cut the Wolves’ lead to four, 38-34, at the half.
With momentum swings for both teams in the second half, CSU started with the momentum pushing their lead to eight, 43-35, in just over a minute into the half. In the next 10 minutes, Judson changed the momentum in their favor.
JU sparked their offense and had a 30-6 run to take a 16-point lead, 65-49, with 8:29 to play. When the run started, JU was down eight. Boyd tied the game at 44 with 14:58 left and then gave JU the lead just 23 seconds later. He also hit a three-pointer to give JU the 16-point lead. After CSU stopped the momentum with bucket, Robinson put JU back up by 16, 67-51, with 7:51 left in the game.
CSU slowly chipped away at JU’s lead over the next seven minutes. CSU cut the lead to single digits with 5:01 left in the game. With 2:37 remaining, JU still had a nine-point lead, 74-65. In those final 2:37, the Eagles would two turnovers, missed four-of-six free throws, and then missed a last second shot to win the game.
CSU nailed a three-pointer with 1:04 left to come within five, 76-71. They then fouled Judson on the next possession to try and get the ball back. JU missed both free throws and CSU took the rebound and scored a double to make it 76-73 with just under a minute to play.
The Wolves fouled Judson, again, with 43 seconds left and JU missed both free throws as CSU pulled down the rebound. CSU only took six seconds to hit the tying three-pointer with 37 seconds remaining. JU ran down the clock on the final possession but could not convert on a last second shot.
Bojanic broke the tie in the first overtime with a jumper just 35 seconds in but CSU’s Triplett tied the game just seven seconds later. Triplett gave CSU the lead, 80-78, with 3:48 remaining but two free throws by Robinson tied the game up for a fifth time. With 3:30 remaining, Williams hit one-of-two from the free throw line to a one-point lead. Triplett again gave CSU the lead on a jumper but Robinson tied the game at 82 by making one free throw.
Pat Barron broke the seventh tie with 1:31 left to give CSU a two-point lead, 84-82, only to see Robinson can a three-pointer for a one-point Judson advantage, 85-84. Once again, Triplett came through for CSU making two free throws for an 86-85 lead and 49 seconds left.
Judson turned the ball over on the next possession and then followed CSU’s D’Amico. D’Amico missed both free throws with 31 seconds left and JU ran the clock down to seven seconds when Boyd was fouled. He made one-of-two free throws to tie the game at 86. CSU took the ball after Boyd made his second free throw but turned it over with four seconds remaining. Boyd took the ball and drove up the middle but his shot did not fall as the teams went to a second overtime.
Shooting only 60% from the free throw line, JU finished shooting just 43% from the floor and 28% from beyond the arc. CSU made 52% from the line, 53% from the floor and 33% from the three-point line. JU had 15 turnovers to CSU’s 13 and had only five steals.
Judson will face another CCAC foe on Saturday, February 9th, at 7:30 p.m. as they take on Purdue-Calumet in Indiana.
