Goodwell, Okla. — Basketball pushed the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) to the limit in a thrilling double-overtime contest but fell short, 86-85, Monday afternoon in their final conference game of the 2024 season.

First Half Recap

The Drovers started strong, building a 10-point lead midway through the first half. The Aggies, however, refused to back down. A critical layup by Tahki Chievous at the 7:41 mark trimmed the deficit to just two points. Despite their rally, the Aggies entered halftime trailing 36-28.

Second Half Comeback

The Aggies faced an 11-point deficit at 12:45 but mounted a determined comeback. Brice Langford's electrifying dunk with 7:52 remaining tied the game at 59. In the closing seconds, Amaree Brown's clutch step-back jumper knotted the score at 73, sending the game into overtime.

Overtime Drama

In the first overtime, Raul Nunez delivered with a pair of free throws to give the Aggies a four-point lead at 1:24. The Drovers answered with a three-pointer to stay in contention. With 14 seconds left, Brown hit one of two free throws to give the Aggies a two-point edge, but a last-second shot by USAO forced a second overtime.

The Aggies struck first in double overtime, with Brown scoring on a fast-break layup at 4:31. However, USAO regained the lead with crucial free throws, going up 86-83 at the 2:18 mark. Langford's free throw with 2:06 brought the Aggies within one point, but they could not find the basket in the final moments.

Key Performances

• Brice Langford: 20 points, nine rebounds, 7-of-10 shooting
• Amaree Brown: 17 points, 3 steals, including the game-tying jumper in regulation
• Jerry Abushanab: 11 points, 7 rebounds
• Bench Production: Contributed 38 points, led by strong efforts from Langford and Chievous

Team Stats

The Aggies shot 40.7% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 7 of 30 attempts (23.3%). The Aggies capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 25 points, and dominated in the paint, scoring 42 points.

Coach Quote: "We head into break at 1-8 in SAC play… you are what your record says you are. No excuses. "

Closing the Season

The Aggies wrap up their 2024 campaign with a non-conference matchup against Northern New Mexico College on December 18 in Española, NM, at 6:00 PM.