JACKSONVILLE —  It took a crazy comeback by Jacksonville College in the final half to force an overtime with the Region XIV South’ Division league leader, San Jacinto Ravens at Curtis Carroll Fieldhouse Tuesday night.

Three-pointers built the San Jac crew the early lead. The three-pointer would be the final un-doing for the visitors with West Virginia, Bob Huggins in attendance and on a scouting mission.

Three treys by Jacksonville, and a technical foul on the San Sac coach for yelling at his own player in overtime resulted in thrilling 108-105, Jaguar win which propelled the Purple and White into a tie for first in the South Zone standings.

The Jags are now 17-7, 8-5 while the Ravens fell to 17-5, 8-5.

The Ravens took a 56-46 lead at the half behind 10, first half three-pointers for San Jacinto alone.

Jacksonville stuck with the game plan laid down by head coach, Jody Bailey and eventually wore-down the Ravens to complete the comeback and tie the game at 73-73.

“Trust in ourselves and our approach was the difference tonight I think,” Bailey said. “We kept believing in the system and we stuck with it throughout the game and it paid off for us.

“The guy’s just did what they had to do…whatever it took, the guys just wanted it more,” the head coach continued. “They have a great team, with a great coach and a historic program but tonight we were a little bit better, and I’m so proud of these guys buying into the program and sticking with it for a big win.”

Five lead changes finished out the regulation time as Raven’s newest New Orleans University commit, Terris Bourgeous sank two, free throws with 1:28 remaining on the clock for the final after 40-minutes.

Daniel Skinner, Nimrod Hilliard and Davon Anderson made clutch shots from downtown as the Jaguars pulled out the three-point victory.

Hilliard kept JC in the game with 14 of his 21-points in the opening half.

Skinner took the Jaguars down the stretch to finish with a team-high 22-points. Along with 8-of-12 points from Kennedy Eubanks early second half began the Jags climb-back in the game.

The Ravens, Mohammad Lee led all scorers in the game with 27-points, with two three-pointers, making a living at the charity stripe with 13 free throws.

Lee hit his first three-pointer to build a 36-26 lead for the visitors at the 5:54 mark. Emanuel Sanchez nailed his first of two 3-pointers at the 1:56 in the first half for the largest San Jac lead of the game at 52-38.

The Purple and White hit the road Saturday for a 6 p.m. game at Blinn College.



Jacksonville College 108, San Jacinto College 105 (OT)

San Jacinto    56    39    10    — 105

Jacksonville    46    49    13    — 108





THREE-POINT GOALS – SJ: Chatham 3, Lofton 4, Sanchez 2, Lee 2, Bourgeous. JC: Cox 3, Skinner 2, Anderson 2, Farr 2.

HALFTIME SCORE – San Jacinto 56, Jacksonville College 46

RECORDS – San Jacinto 17-5, 8-5. Jacksonville 17-7; 8-5.

NEXT UP – Jacksonville College at Blinn College, 4 p.m., Saturday