LEXINGTON, Ky.
The Franklin College men’s basketball team connected on a last-second shot to force overtime and later successfully defended a game-tying shot in the extra session to pick up an 87-84 victory at Transylvania University in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play Wednesday.
Junior John Beineke made a layup with 12 seconds left in regulation to tie the contest at 74-all.
In the overtime period, junior Brett McCory connected on two 3-point field goals. The second shot from behind the arc gave the Grizzlies an 84-80 lead with 47 seconds remaining.
Senior Trae Washington successfully converted two free throws to extend the margin to five points, 86-81, with 20 seconds left.
Transylvania’s Parker Stansberry answered with a 3-point field goal to trim the lead to 86-84 with 14 seconds left. McCory made one free throw to give Franklin an 87-84 lead with 11 seconds remaining.
Stansberry missed a potential game-tying 3-point field goal in the closing seconds.
Franklin ended the last five minutes of regulation on a 9-4 run. Beineke scored five of his team-high 19 points during the late surge to force overtime.
Washington scored 16 points, recorded seven assists and grabbed six rebounds. McCory added 16 points and made all four of his 3-point field goal attempts. Junior Robbie Prather rounded out the balanced scoring attack with 16 points.
Transylvania led 37-35 at half and the two teams battled throughout the second stanza with each team holding a five-point lead during the 20-minute period.
Franklin concludes the 2015-16 season at 3 p.m. Saturday when it travels to play at Anderson University.
