Avila Rallies to Top Tabor in Overtime Thriller

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Down by as many as 12 points in the second half, Avila men's basketball (4-14, 3-13 KCAC) pulled off a late rally, tying the score and forcing overtime in the final few seconds before prevailing 79-73 in the extra session against Tabor (9-13, 6-10 KCAC) on Saturday evening in Mabee Fieldhouse.

It seems like Avila men's basketball is good for two or three thrilling games like this every season and on Saturday, even with the team now under a new direction, that's exactly what the Eagles provided. Avila trailed by 12 points, 45-33, with about 13 minutes left in regulation. It's not the first time this season the Eagles have faced a deficit like that with about that much time remaining. But Saturday was the first time that the Eagles have overcome it, storming back and stunning Tabor by completing the comeback on a tip-in from Matthew Boldt with six seconds remaining.

But really, a tied game after 40 minutes is much more reflective of how evenly matched the game was throughout than a double-digit lead for Tabor was. Avila was the more efficient three-point shooting team while Tabor was better from the foul line, but most of the other team stats were incredibly even. Turnovers and depth scoring, two things that have hampered the Eagles at times this season, proved to be major issues for the Bluejays on the occasion: Avila's bench outscored Tabor's 32-10, and the Eagles committed nine fewer turnovers and turned them into six more points – a direct correlation to Avila's eventual six-point win.

It's fair to say that Tabor was in control for nearly all of the game, but it's also fair to say that Tabor was never in full control outside of the visitors' big push early in the second half. The Bluejays made the first surge of the game, taking a 22-13 lead halfway through the first half, but the Eagles clamped down from there, allowing only seven points over the final ten minutes of the period, and finally bringing the halftime score to a level 29 apiece thanks to late three-pointers from Josh Kilpatrick and Christian Spalding.

Tabor then scored the first seven points of the second half, and steadily built its largest lead, 45-33, with 13:10 to go. But once again, the Eagles rallied: Jaren Miller was the kickstarter in the second half with a couple of buckets, a block, a board, and then a setup of another Kilpatrick three to get Avila back within three points in just three minutes of action.

Avila could get no closer for a while, and every time the Eagles punched the Bluejays punched back. Tabor maintained an eight-point lead, 60-52, with under four to play. But a deep ball from senior Jared Larson finally gave the Eagles the spark they needed. James Ross III blocked a three from Kenyon Holcombe on one end and then teed up Cooper Smith for a three on the other end, drawing Avila back level, 60-60, for the first time since the halftime break.

In the midst of a killer game, Thatcher McClure looked like he hit a dagger three, restoring a four-point lead for the visitors with 1:16 on the clock. But Boldt then struck twice, including the game-tying layup on a putback with six seconds left to send the Eagles into an extra frame for the first time this season once McClure barely missed what would have been a game-winner as time expired.

Jaiden Miller scored the first points of overtime, canceled immediately by another bucket from Boldt. Tabor then missed a three and Avila countered with a rare deep ball from Desmond Combs, giving the Eagles a 70-67 lead – their first lead of the entire game. From there, Avila was finally in command: Boldt and Ross each made a shot, and the Eagles, afforded hardly any trips to the foul line until overtime, made the shots that counted, staving off the Bluejays in a 79-73 overtime victory.

McClure led all players with 26 points and ten rebounds on a stellar 6-of-14 three-point shooting day. Kenyon Holcombe had a strong first half but the Eagles kept him stuck at nine points/11 rebounds for much of the second half. Boldt paced the Eagles with 17 points, while Larson had 11 and Smith had 10; Ross came alive in the second half and finished with nine points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Up next, Avila men's basketball hits the road to take on York in Nebraska this Wednesday, February 7. The Eagles are eying the season sweep of the Panthers in a critical late season contest with only a half dozen games left in the year. The women kick off the doubleheader at 6 PM with the men to follow at 8; as always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the KCAC Network.