The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Thompson’s Half-Court Buzzer-Beater Lifts Rice Over Stephen F. Austin 81-78 in OT
By Piper Rampage
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Jaxson Thompson connected on a shot from beyond halfcourt at the overtime buzzer to give Rice an 81-78 victory over Stephen F. Austin at William R. Johnson Coliseum, breaking a 78-78 tie and ending the Lumberjacks’ 10-game nonconference home winning streak.
Thompson finished with 32 points and five assists, delivering the decisive shot after Rice and Stephen F. Austin played to a 72-72 tie through regulation. Rice improved to 2-2, while the Lumberjacks dropped to 3-1.
Rice led 39-30 at halftime after outscoring Stephen F. Austin 39-30 in the opening period. The Lumberjacks answered with a 42-33 advantage in the second half, erasing a double-digit deficit and moving ahead 72-68 late in regulation.
Rice responded with four consecutive points to tie the game at 72-72 and force overtime. Neither team separated itself in the extra period, with the score eventually tied at 78-78 before Thompson’s final attempt decided the game.
At the overtime buzzer, Thompson launched a shot from beyond halfcourt and made it, giving the Owls the three-point win. His 32-point performance led all scorers and capped a game in which Rice needed a late regulation push and an overtime finish to secure the result.
Jimmy Oladokun Jr. added 14 points and nine rebounds for Rice. Carmelo Adkins contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Erik Makke led Stephen F. Austin with 18 points, while Marcus Scurry scored 13. The Lumberjacks had rallied from their halftime deficit to take a late four-point lead in regulation, but could not close out the game.
Rice scored nine points in overtime, compared with six for Stephen F. Austin. The final three came on Thompson’s buzzer-beater, which turned a tied game into an 81-78 road victory.
The loss snapped Stephen F. Austin’s 10-game nonconference home winning streak and handed the Lumberjacks their first defeat of the season. Rice moved to 2-2 after securing the overtime win.
Piper Rampage
Men’s College Basketball, The Library Media
