BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Pratt Institute men's basketball team prevailed in another thrilling overtime victory at the ARC upending the University of Valley Forge 66-63 on Friday evening. First-year Cameron Windt led the Cannoneers (2-0) with 20 points and Patrick O'Gorman recorded a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Mekhi Davis added eight points off the bench as nine different Cannoneers contributed to the ledger. Jaden Young chipped in five points.
A close opening 10 minutes saw neither team ahead by more than one basket. Pratt assembled a 12-2 run over two minutes keyed by six points from Davis and five from Windt and the black-and-gold built a 12-point separation. But the visitors ran off six quick points heading into the lockers to shrink the Pratt lead to 31-25.
The Patriots (0-2) scored the first seven points of the new period and took a brief lead. With both teams still tied approaching the midway point of the half, O'Gorman sparked a 10-0 run with five points to build a 51-41 cushion with six minutes to play. But the offense was held to one field goal the rest of regulation and Valley Forge responded with a 13-3 run to knot the game with 2:24 to play. A pair of Windt free throws with 1:36 put Pratt back on top, but the Patriots responded with a long two-pointer for a 56-all tie. In the final minute of regulation, the Cannoneers missed a pair at the line with a chance to re-take the lead and a shot by the Patriots to win at the buzzer was off.
Valley Forge opened the extra session with a three-pointer and Pratt had to play from behind. Ace Bibbs layup ended a six-minute field goal drought and Windt later followed with a bucket to tie the game at 60-all. Both teams traded the lead two more times in a wild final two minutes. O'Gorman sank two free throws in the bonus with 30 seconds left for a 64-63 lead. The Patriots had two looks to take the lead in the final 10 seconds but they wouldn't fall and O'Gorman was fouled with 0.4 left in a flagrant one foul sinking two more free throws and Pratt keeping possession to hold on for the victory. O'Gorman and Bibbs combined for eight points in the extra session.
The Patriots were led by Jeremiah Daye's 20 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out and Dashawn Goodine added an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Pratt closes out a three-game homestand hosting Hunter College on Tuesday, November 14 at the ARC starting at 6 p.m.
