BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Senior guard Bol Akot had a rough shooting day from the floor going just 3-for-12 overall while hitting 13-of-17 free throws for Post University Men's Basketball in their season-opening win against Franklin Pierce University in overtime at the Bridgeport Tip-Off Tournament on Friday afternoon. But no shot was bigger for the Eagles among that trio of shots Akot made than his one with less than three seconds to go in overtime to help lift Post to a narrow 90-88 victory over a scrappy Ravens team.


THE BASICS

(RV) Post University 90, Franklin Pierce University 88 (OT)

(RV) Post University (1-0)

Franklin Pierce University (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
After trailing by one, 13-12, with 14:24 to go in the first half, graduate forward Derrick Thomas II hit a layup that made it a one-point game in favor of the Eagles and for the rest of regulation they would lead the game until the final second. Thomas II's shot kicked off a stretch in which Post was able to lead by as many as nine on a pair of occasions in the first half before a mini 3-0 run to end the first 20 minutes of the season for Franklin Pierce brought them within five, 37-32, at the break.

With 17:12 left in regulation, sophomore guard Pierce Prendergast went on a 4-0 run on his own to bring the Ravens within one, 41-40, at which point the Eagles turned on the jets to keep distance between themselves and Franklin Pierce in a way that looked like they would control things for the remainder of the contest. Graduate forward Harrison Warnock knocked down a three about 30 seconds later and soon enough the lead blossomed back to six points following two layups from freshman forward Anthony Chinn around a bucket from the Ravens.

However, Franklin Pierce continued to hang around never letting the deficit grow to more than eight which it would with Akot hitting a free throw as well as a junior guard Tre Duncan nailing a layup with 3:41 remaining. A trio of baskets from the Ravens due in part to two turnovers by Post brought their deficit back to within one in less than a minute, 70-69, before Post yet again extended it back to six with the help of sophomore guard Ta'Quan Williams and a layup from Thomas II.

But the Ravens answered back once more with a three from Prendergast with 1:52 left followed by a layup from freshman guard Nathaniel Smith to cut it back down to one, 77-76, with still a minute left. Missed shots and turnovers on both sides eventually led to Akot hitting a pair of free throws to make it a 79-76 lead for Post with 15 seconds left before a clutch three with only a second remaining by Smith tied things up at 79 all. With the desperation heave from Williams near half-court going off the front of the rim, the two teams headed to a five-minute overtime.

The tables would turn in the first half of the overtime period with the Ravens bursting out to a six-point lead behind a 6-0 run over the first minute and change before Akot's three free throws and a go-ahead three by graduate guard Tyler Small put a cap on a 7-0 run for the Eagles to regain the lead. Senior forward Ja'Keese Kemp would briefly give Franklin Pierce the lead back with two free throws but after turnovers from both teams, Duncan's dunk put Post ahead by one, 88-87, with 1:14 left.

After two missed free throws inside of a minute for Akot, Small's foul sent the Ravens to the line, and junior forward Demariontay Hall would go one-for-two to tie things up at 88. Cue Akot following a missed three by Smith following the rebound on the free throw as the senior weaved his way through the Franklin Pierce defense with less than three seconds to go to give Post the lead for good 90-88 as graduate guard Donte Pope's inbound was stolen by Duncan to cap off the season-opening thriller.

BY THE NUMBERS

• After recording nine double-doubles last season, Deng Deang notched his first double-double of the season with a 13-point, 13-rebound effort in the
• Despite going 3-for-12 from the floor, Bol Akot was 13-for-17 at the free throw line to lead Post University with 19 points
• Donte Pope led all scorers in the game with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting with a 7-for-8 day at the charity stripe
• During last year's program-best season, Post University was 14-1 when leading at halftime and now starts the season 1-0 when leading at the half – The Eagles were 3-0 last season in overtime games
• This was the first matchup between Post University and Franklin Pierce University since the 2009-10 season and the first win in program history for the Eagles against the Ravens after starting 0-5 all-time against them

WHO'S NEXT
Post University closes out the Bridgeport Tip-Off Tournament on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 PM against Mercy University at the Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium. The Eagles have won three straight matches against the Mavericks since the 2019-20 season and in a neutral site affair against them in Sparkill, New York last season, they came out on top, 83-64.