1/30/10- Royals Mount Comeback, Fall Short in Overtime

Fullerton, CA- Down by as many as 12 points in the second half, Hope International came back to take the lead on multiple occasions late in the game and eventually settled for overtime with Point Loma Nazarene. In the overtime period, the Sea Lions did just enough to defeat the Royals 69-65. Four players in double figures, led by 19 points from Senior Marcellus Cullors, was not enough to pull out the win.

The Royals took the early lead but after a back and forth game for the first four minutes the game was tied at 6-6. On the Sea Lions next possession they hit a three pointer to take the lead. With the lead down to one with 4:20 left in the half, the Sea Lions used a 10-3 run to take 26-18 lead into the break.

Only one player was in double figures and that was Rhett Beal with 12 points for the Sea Lions. Freshman Kris Rosales was the high man for the Royals with 7 points.

When played resumed, the Royals could not break through their eight point deficit in the first six plus minutes of the second half. In fact, the Sea Lions kept pushing their lead into double digits topping out at 12 points with 16:26 to play.

But with the Royals down 37-28, Senior Marko Torovic went on a mission and pulled the Royals to within two as he went on a personal 7-0 run highlighted by a layup and ensuing “and one”. All 13 of his points came after the break.

The next six minutes saw the Royals pull with one on three different occasions but unable to complete the full comeback. Finally, a jumper by Junior Stephon Thomas at the 5:51 mark completed the comeback and knotted the game at 48-48.

A layup by Torovic gave the Royals their first lead since the early goings of the game. From that point until the end of regulation, the game would be tied four times.

With 12 seconds left in regulation Senior Buai Tut was fouled with the Royals down 66-65. Tut had his first free throw rattle in and out. He converted his second one to tie the score. After a missed layup by the Sea Lions, Tut came away with the ever important rebound with 1.8 seconds on the clock.

The Royals had one last chance for the win in regulation. Cullors received the inbound pass and fired off a three pointer just inside mid court. The shot turned out to be just off as it hit the backboard and bounced hard off the left side of the rim as time expired.

On to overtime.

In the extra session, Cullors gave the Royals a three point lead by dropping in a layup while being fouled. He converted the ensuing free throw.

There were four ties and three lead changes to take the game to down to 29 seconds when the Sea Lions (6-14, 3-9 GSAC) made the first of four free throws to close out the game.

On Tuesday, the Royals (4-16, 0-11 GSAC) will host Concordia in the Darling Pavilion at 7:30 pm.

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