NEW ORLEANS - Melvin Johnson III finished the longest game in Sun Belt Conference Tournament history after nobody else could Friday night.
Johnson’s driving, spinning layup with 6.4 seconds to go in the fourth overtime turned into a three-point play, and UALR didn’t get a shot off on its final possession as ASU escaped with a 116-114 victory in the quarterfinals at Lakefront Arena.
It marked the first time in the 38-year history of the tournament that a game went to four overtimes. The end finally came at about 9:20 p.m. - 3 hours, 20 minutes after tip-off.
Neither team led by more than seven points through 40 minutes of regulation, and neither led by more than four while playing an extra 20 minutes.
The game finally came to an end when UALR guard Josh Hagins’ pass that was intended for Stetson Billings was tipped by Ed Townsel on the Trojans’ final possession and rolled across the floor as the buzzer sounded.
ASU Coach John Brady raised his right fist and danced onto the floor as he celebrated a victory the longest game in program history. It featured 23 ties and 31 lead changes.
“What a classic college basketball game,” Brady said. “I was proud of our team for finding a way to win. … Fun to watch for the fans, fun for you guys. I don’t know how much fun it was for our coaches to coach it.”
While Brady was dancing, Leroy Isler fell to his back on the other side of the floor and pulled his jersey over his face. Isler scored a career-high 25 points, which included a contested three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to send the game into the third overtime.
“It’s bananas,” Isler said. “I’ve never played in nothing like this.”
Billings made 1 of 2 free throws to give UALR a 114-113 lead with 13.9 seconds left in the fourth overtime, but Brady had a play in mind for ASU’s final possession.
Townsel, who had a career-high 32 points, took the inbounds pass for ASU, dribbled to the right wing and handed off to Johnson. He dribbled to the top of the key, then drove through the lane, made a spin move and laid the ball in as he was fouled by Billings. Johnson, who finished with 19 points, made the free throw for a 116-114 lead.
“I was kind of non-existent for the whole game,” Johnson said. “So, I just had to do something, anything possible,to try to win this game.”
No. 4 seed ASU (19-12) advanced to a semifinal match up against top-seeded Georgia State at 2 p.m. today, less than 17 hours after Friday’s victory.
Hagins said he was looking to take a three-pointer in front of Cameron Golden and Townsel when he decided to pass, which allowed the ball to be tipped by Townsel.
“Was trying to step up and be the hero,” Hagins said. “I’ve just got to give the ball up. I’m kind of upset with myself for ending Leroy’s career like that, without even getting an attempt up. I’m just really regretting it.”
UALR Coach Steve Shields said Hagins was too hard on himself after the game. The sophomore guard scored 11 of his 17 points after regulation. He missed a three at the buzzer that would have won it at the end of the third overtime, but he scored on a scooping layup that gave UALR a 109-108 lead with 3:05 left in the final overtime.
Shields told Hagins to drive to the basket, but he said he had no problem with Hagins taking a three-pointer if he had a good look at the basket considering his bench was getting thin after playing 60 minutes.
James White, who had 20 points, fouled out in the first overtime, and Mareik Isom, who had a season-high 14 points on 4-of-4 shooting and 6 rebounds, fouled out in regulation. Gus Leeper and DeVonte Smith also fouled out for the fifth-seeded Trojans (15-17).
“Josh has made a lot of shots for us,” Shields said. “As you can imagine, that locker room is a down locker room after fighting as hard as they did, but I’m really proud of this team.”
Kendrick Washington had 11 points and 10 rebounds but fouled out in regulation, and Kelvin Downs also fouled out. Forward Kirk Van Slyke picked up his fourth foul with 15:14 left in the second half. He sat for much of the final 15 minutes and was on the bench on some defensive possessions in the overtimes, but he never fouled out and finished with 24 points while making 14 of 17 free throws.
Sun Belt Men’s Tournament At Lakefront Arena New Orleans QUARTERFINALS FRIDAY’S GAMES Arkansas State 116, UALR 114, 4OT La.-Lafayette 91, Texas-Arlington 85 SEMIFINALS TODAY’S GAMES Georgia State vs. Arkansas State, 2 p.m. W. Kentucky vs. La.-Lafayette, 4:30 p.m.
Sports, Pages 19 on 03/15/2014