Post University Athletics

ALBANY, N.Y. -- It would not be the start of basketball season without a little bit of late-game drama and Post University Men's Basketball provided just that in their season opener against the University of New Haven on Saturday afternoon at the Saint Rose Tip-Off. Despite a second-half comeback by the Chargers, a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double in junior forward Deng Deang's first game as an Eagle would help them escape with an 89-85 overtime win.

THE BASICS

Post University 89, University of New Haven 85 (OT)

Post University (1-0)

University of New Haven (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Running out a completely new starting five from their first game a year ago, a closely contested first half saw neither team be able to take more than a five-point edge on their opposition. The first lead of the game for the Eagles would come from a three ball from junior point guard Bol Akot, making his Post University debut, as they took an early 7-4 lead over the Chargers. That would short-lived as a 5-0 run from New Haven put them back up by two in what would ultimately be a first half of small runs from both sides.

Junior guard Cape Holden's three pointer which put the Eagles up, 16-13, would be the last time Post would be in front until the 5:56 mark of the first half as a 7-0 run by the Chargers had given them a 20-16 lead which they held steady to. That was until Deang's driving layup to make it a 28-27 game. Down the stretch, the Eagles' hot shooting which culminated in a 17-for-30 performance from the field, good for a 56.7 field-goal percentage, would send them into the halftime break with a 44-39 lead over the Chargers.
 
At that point, Akot had 15 first-half points for Post while Deang netted eight points. On the other side, freshman guard Jah'Likai King. junior guard Justin Hendrick, and sophomore forward Ethan Simmon led the way with seven points apiece.
 
The start of the second half would be kind to the Eagles who exploded out to a 14-point lead within four minutes, 59-45. The offense would primarily come from Deang who during that stretch scored 11 points for Post to bring his total for the game up to 19 points. However, foul trouble would start to come back to haunt the Eagles and allow the Chargers to get back into the affair.
 
Eight Post fouls within a span of about 10 minutes in which the Eagles were only able to generate eight points of offense allowed New Haven to take the lead back, 68-67, with 7:18 remaining in regulation. The comeback was led by King who had 17 second-half points up to that point while as a team the Chargers went 6-for-9 from the line.
 
But then both offenses would start to go stagnant, combining for just 15 total points over the next 5:13 which saw King's layup give New Haven a three-point lead, 70-67, before Akot answered back with a game-tying three. Getting into double-digits for the Eagles, junior Kyle Alcy's layup with 2:03 to go gave Post a 76-74 advantage following a Charger turnover. Alcy would get another bucket after a pair of free throws from Simmon to keep the Eagles ahead with 1:11 left in regulation.
 
But once again the Chargers would answer back with King tying it up at 78 and after a pair of missed shots following rebounds, Head Coach Marc Kuntz would call timeout with Post having possession with 11.1 seconds remaining. A turnover by Akot would lead to a desperation heave by graduate forward Tyler Saint-Furcy which would fall short, sending the game to overtime.
 
The extra five-minute period would be owned by Post who went on a 7-0 run as freshman point guard Ta'Quan Williams hit a three while Alcy and Deang each recorded layups, forcing a New Haven timeout. King would break up the run with a three-point play after being fouled by Williams with 2:03 to go, then hit two more free throws with 1:29 left, bringing the Chargers within two, 85-83.
 
Senior forward Derrick Thomas II would hit a clutch jumper with 22.5 seconds and the shot clock winding down to break up the run after Simmon missed a potential game-tying layup with 48 seconds remaining. But yet again, King would answer the call for the Chargers to keep them within one possession and still 18 seconds on the clock.
 
Following an Akot missed free throw on the one-and-one, the Eagle defense would come up big on the other end with Williams getting a steal and being fouled by King with six seconds left. The freshman would hit both free throws and Deang would steal the last-second attempt by the Chargers to score as Post held on for the 89-85 win.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

•  Deng Deang led the way with 23 points and 13 rebounds across 30 minutes on 10-of-18 shooting, this was Deang's first game in an Eagle uniform
• Jah'Likai King showed out for New Haven, going 14-for-21 from the floor with 35 points, including 28 in the second half
• Four Eagles finished in double figures in Deang (23 points), Bol Akot (18 points), Kyle Alcy (15 points), and Ta'Quan Williams (15 points)
• As a team, Post University shot 48.6% from the field, including 56.6% in the first half and 50% in the overtime frame

WHO'S NEXT
Post University closes out the Saint Rose Tip-Off with a matchup against The College of Saint Rose slated for 6:00 PM tomorrow in Albany, New York. This will be the first matchup in program history between the two schools.