After a scoreless game until the 16:32 mark, HSU scored the first seven points of the game, but VWC came right back with eight straight points of its own. The Marlins ran it out to a 25-14 lead before the Cowboys cut it to four at 25-21, with a seven-point run. TonTon Balenga scored the last basket of the half to give VWC a 27-21 lead.
The Cowboys (4-6) took their first lead since the early going when Charlie Pannell hit a 3-pointer and then a baseline drive to give HSU a 38-37 lead with 11:26 to go in the game.
From there the game went back and forth. Balenga hit a 3-pointer to give VWC the lead with 6:05 to play and Cowboy leading scorer Zach Pickelman answered with a 3-pointer of his own 10 seconds later to give HSU a 49-47 lead.
Steven Fields hit a jumper to tie it on the next possession and Pickelman came back with two free throws to make it 51-49. Mardochee Jean then blocked a shot and Michael Dinkins took the ball head to the hold and was fouled and he hit both free throws to make it 53-49. Steven Fields hit a fade-away jumper from the top of the key to make it 53-51 with 3:07 to play.
Pickelman was fouled on a shot in the paint and hit both free throws to make it 55-51 with 1:58 to play. Fields answered with another jumper 10 seconds later to make it 55-53 and with :42 to play hit a 3-pointer to give the Marlins a 56-55 lead. Pickelman tied the game with 29 seconds to play when he split a pair of free throws.
The Marlins tried for the game winner but Mardochee Jean rejected the shot and Zach Pickelman blocked Rodney Young’s shot. Pickelman’s last second shot came up short at the buzzer.
VWC scored the first four points of overtime, but the Cowboys responded with four straight on buckets by M. Jean and James Peters. The Marlins then made four straight free throws to make it 64-60. Jean split a pair of free throws with 52 seconds to play and Fields split a pair for VWC with 20.2 to play to make it 65-61. Balenga ended the game with a pair of free throws with 07.6 seconds to play.
Pickleman and Jean had 12 points each and Pannell added 10 points to lead the Cowboys. Jean just missed a triple-double as he added 16 rebounds and nine blocked shots. Balenga led the Marlins with 28 points and 13 rebounds. VWC, which is ranked third in the nation, improved to 8-2 on the year.
The Cowboys will return to action on Thursday when they host UT-Dallas at 7:30 at the Mabee Complex.