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Alarie’s Bank Shot With Two Seconds Left Lifts Bradley Past George Mason, 62-61
By Piper Rampage
Photo: Unknown Bradley University / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Xander Alarie banked in a game-winning shot from the right elbow with two seconds remaining, lifting Bradley to a 62-61 victory over George Mason at the McArthur Center in the Showdown in St. Pete. Bradley improved to 3-2, while George Mason suffered its first loss and dropped to 3-1.
Alarie led all scorers with 17 points, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 3-of-3 from three-point range. He also grabbed five rebounds. Trevon Payton added 13 points in 20 minutes for Bradley.
George Mason led 31-27 at halftime after scoring 31 points in the opening half while holding Bradley to 27. The Patriots extended their advantage after the break, using a 12-2 run that included three consecutive three-pointers by Shane Pendergrass to move ahead 47-40.
Bradley trailed by as many as eight points with 6:33 remaining. The Braves began working back into the game, and Payton’s three-pointer off a turnover pulled them within 61-60 with two minutes left.
George Mason had an opportunity to maintain its one-point lead late, but Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor missed the front end of a one-and-one with 14 seconds remaining. Timoty van der Knaap secured the rebound for Bradley, setting up the final possession.
With two seconds left, Alarie took the ball to the right elbow against a double-team and made the bank shot that put Bradley ahead 62-61. Bradley then survived a desperate three-point attempt at the buzzer to complete the comeback.
Bradley finished 9-of-21 from three-point range, good for 42.9 percent, and made all 15 of its free throws. George Mason held advantages in the paint and on the boards, winning those categories 32-20 and 36-25, respectively. Emmanuel Kanga recorded a double-double for the Patriots with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Bradley entered the neutral-site matchup as a 13.5-point underdog. The result came down to the final possession, with Alarie’s shot giving the Braves the one-point win.
Piper Rampage
Men’s College Basketball, The Library Media
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