RIVERSIDE, Calif. -
Parker Christensen made a layup with three seconds remaining to cap a game-ending 9-0 run as La Sierra University (2-0) defeated Montana State University-Northern (3-1) 70-69 on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Alumni Pavilion.
Christensen's layup gave the Golden Eagles an early 13-8 lead, and Kason Smith dunked off an Isiah Shirley assist to make it 15-11. The MSU Northern moved ahead and built a 36-26 advantage on Austin Ramos' 3-pointer with 5:14 left in the first half. Malachi Murrell answered with a layup 14 seconds later. Gavin Cox's steal later set up a Dontae Perry jumper off Bryan Cabrera's assist, cutting the deficit to 40-34. Murrell hit a 3-pointer at the end of the half to bring La Sierra within 6, making it 43-37.
Javon Maxwell helped drive the second-half comeback, hitting a 3-pointer off Caleb Tinker's assist to cut the margin to 45-42 with 17:30 remaining. Maxwell's three-point play brought La Sierra within 51-49 at 14:14, but Ramos responded with two 3-pointers around a Christensen jumper. Northern extended their lead to 62-53 with 11:37 left. Christensen kept the Golden Eagles within reach, scoring a jumper at 7:18 and a layup at 6:06 to trim the deficit to 66-61.
Oskar Pula's layup put Montana State-Northern ahead 69-61 with 4:34 remaining, but the Lights did not score again.
Maxwell opened the decisive run with a 3-pointer 10 seconds later. Cox followed with a layup off Christensen's assist at 3:05, and Cabrera's layup made it 69-68 with 1:35 left. Maxwell secured Luke Holecek's missed layup with seven seconds remaining and assisted Christensen's winning basket. Holecek missed a jumper at the buzzer.
Christensen and Maxwell finished with 18 points apiece. Christensen shot 8-of-15 from the field and added two steals, while Maxwell went 7-of-10 and collected 10 rebounds for a double-double. Maxwell delivered 13 points and eight rebounds after halftime. Murrell contributed 11 points and six rebounds, making all four of his free-throw attempts. Cabrera finished with five points and two assists, and Cox made both of his field-goal attempts for four points.
La Sierra shot 50.9% from the field, made 12-of-13 free throws and held a 34-24 advantage in points in the paint. The Golden Eagles edged the visitors 30-29 in rebounds despite committing 11 turnovers to Montana State-Northern's nine.
La Sierra plays next at home on Nov. 12
th at 7:30 PM with Bethesda University.
