Keith McCullough's game-tying corner three at the buzzer sent the Cook Center faithful into a frenzy, but the Pioneers eventually fell in triple overtime 94-82 on Saturday. Missouri Valley came in to the game fresh off a dominant victory over Lindenwood, and carried that momentum to Olathe. The game was tight throughout, and neither team got into an offensive rhythm in the first half. The Pioneers shot just 29% (including 0-7 from three) and the Viking shot 35% in the first half. Despite just 6 combined points from MNU's two leading scorers, the Pioneers took a one-point lead into halftime.
The second half was much of the same. Neither team took more than a five-point lead, and there were 15 ties in regulation. The Pioneers found themselves down 5 with 90 seconds left. A couple of Brenton Bell free throws got MNU closer, but the Pioneers were still down 4 with 10 seconds. A quick Ben Swinger layup cut the lead in half, but Bell's 5th foul sent him to the bench and the Vikings to the line. The second free throw missed and MNU had one final shot with 3 seconds left trailing by three. Ben Swinger's court-length pass found Vince Thompkins at the top of the key. Thompkins immediately fired a pass to McCullough in the corner, and after a pump-fake, he drained a 3 to tie the game.
Late in the first overtime, the Pioneers were down by 4 again. After a Rustin Down layup, the Vikings went to the free throw line to ice the game. Both shots missed, and freshman Ethan Alexander was fouled on the rebound. He cooly made both of his free throws to tie the game, and the Pioneers went to double overtime.
The Pioneers lost 3 more starters by the time the second overtime ended. Andrew Crotty, Ben Swinger, and Rustin Dowd all fouled out, leaving MNU short on scorers. But the Pioneers hung tough and were able to force a third overtime when Mark Ball hit a free throw to tie the game in the final seconds.
The third overtime was all Missouri Valley. A single Vince Thompkins free throw was all the offense the Pioneers could muster, and the Vikings pulled away and won by 12.
Brenton Bell led all scorers with 20 points. Ben Swinger had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Vince Thompkins had 13 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds. And Rustin Dowd had 13 points and 6 rebounds.
MNU is 8-6 (2-2 HAAC). The next game is Monday at Central Methodist (11-4, 5-0) at 7:30.
