BROOKLYN -- Behind a career night from Ari Grant, Pratt rebounded after squandering a late lead in the final seconds of regulation to run away in overtime with a 61-50 victory over The New School Thursday night at the ARC.
Pratt's sophomore forward tallied career highs of 28 points and 18 rebounds, but a woeful Cannoneers performance at the free throw stripe left the door open for a Narwhals game-tying three-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation. Pratt shot 6-14 from the line in the second half, 11-25 through regulation, and point guard Sam Peterson missed three of four free throws in the final minute before Shane Galvin's three-pointer from deep on the right wing tied the contest at 48-48 with 10 seconds to play.
Grant atoned for a traveling call with five seconds left in regulation with a steal off the New School inbounds pass. After a heave upcourt to Peterson, the senior's fallaway jumper brushed the front rim, forcing overtime in the Cannoneers season opener.
Ironically, free throws distanced Pratt off the overtime tip, with the Cannoneers opening the extra frame on a 10-0 run with eight of the 10 points coming at the free throw stripe. A Peterson jumper, two Mehmet Doganata free throws and a pair from Peterson at the line capped the 10-0 run and opened up a 58-48 lead in the final minute. Pratt held the Narwhals scoreless for until the final 53 seconds of the frame in locking up a 61-50 overtime win.
The New School narrowly outrebounded Pratt, 56-55, led by10 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench from forward Dahi Divine. HJ Gaskins led the team with 16 points to go along with nine rebounds on an 8-9 performance at the stripe.
Peterson totaled nine points and a team-high three assists. Doganata, meanwhile, added nine on 7-9 shooting from the charity stripe and a team-best three steals in 33 minutes off the bench in his Cannoneers debut. Sophomore Nicholas Lensander chipped in with six points and six rebounds in 26 minutes, and fellow forward Aaron Nininger grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots in his first game as a Cannoneer.
At 1-0, Pratt plays host to Fisher College in the first-ever meeting between the schools on Tuesday at the ARC at 7:30 p.m.
In the Bonus: Pratt held the Narwhals without a field goal on 0-8 shooting in overtime ... The Cannoneers defense forced 26 turnovers. Peterson, Doganata and the Pratt offense, meanwhile, turned the ball over only 11 times in 45 minutes ... For the game, Pratt shot 56 percent (22-39) from the stripe. The New School hit 17-24 for 71 percent ... From the floor, Pratt shot only 26 percent (18-69), while the Narwhals managed only 24 percent shooting (14-58) .. Both teams shot an even 20 percent from three-point range.
