BUZZER-BEATER BY PARKER CAPS OFF WARRIOR COMEBACK AGAINST MVNU

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - It took the full 40 minutes of action on day two of the JBA Classic for the Warriors to secure a 5-0 start to the season, with guard Brody Parker going the full length of the court in 4.5 seconds and hitting a game-winning layup as time expired to give the Warriors a 70-69 victory over the Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars. After a solid first half, the Warriors came out flat to open the final 20 minutes, but a huge run helped RCU create the opportunity for the winner. Forward Brett White led the Warriors in scoring with 27 on 8-12 shooting, while Parker and center James Fisher combined for 33. For the Cougars, forward Bailey Conrad led the way with 18. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

Parker and Fisher started off the Warriors with the game's first five points before an MVNU three got the visitors on the board. White answered back with a three of his own on the ensuing possession, getting a tip-in shortly after to put the Warriors up 10-6. The Cougars responded with a 5-0 run to take the lead, but Fisher and guard Gunner Walters connected on a pick and roll on two straight possessions to get the advantage right back. The teams entered a slow stretch offensively from there, not scoring for three minutes before MVNU's Isaiah Brown nailed a three.

The Warriors maintained the lead with another solo 5-0 run by White, who continued the scoring stretch with a midrange pull-up in transition to keep RCU ahead by six. On the next possession, forward Tymias Williams stripped an MVNU guard for an open fastbreak dunk to increase RCU's momentum. The forward made another big play shortly after, dishing off to Fisher inside for a dunk in the paint that forced a timeout by the Cougars.

RCU's defense continued to hold strong until the Cougars scored five unanswered just under the five-minute mark. However, Parker kept the Warriors ahead by three possessions with four big points to send RCU into halftime leading 34-27.

SECOND HALF

It was not a start to remember for the Warriors in the second half, as the Cougars exploded out for a 20-3 run to completely flip the game behind big shots from Conrad and guard Trent Koning. The Warriors struggled to find much offense for the first five minutes of the half, with White scoring the lone field goal for RCU in that stretch. Each time it seemed like the Warriors were able to find some rhythm, the Cougars fired back with a big offensive play. White added another layup for the Warriors, but there was a lot of work to be done for RCU to have a chance, as a three by MVNU's Lori Bedi put the Cougars up 61-47 with nine minutes remaining.

Following the under-10 media timeout, the Warriors began chipping away at the deficit, beginning with White's free throws. On the next possession, the Warriors secured a big stop that led to a layup for Fisher. A couple of possessions later, White secured a steal that led to another pair of made free throws. The hustle plays continued for the Warriors on offense, with Fisher getting two more shots at the charity stripe off an offensive rebound, putting the Warriors down only six. Koning knocked down a three to put MVNU back up nine, but the Warriors started to show life with Walters knocking down a big three on a kick-out by Williams.

The Warriors kept the defense up with a huge block by White, who drew contact yet again for two free throws to bring the Warriors within four. Following two more made free throws by Fisher to bring the Warriors within two, Williams got the Warriors their big break with a steal that led to a huge transition three for Parker. A missed three by the Cougars on the next possession led to a layup for Walters to give the Warriors a three-point lead. That lead was short-lived, with MVNU's Carter Jones knocking down a three to tie the game with two minutes to go. 

The teams continued to slug it out defensively, with RCU getting the lead with 29 seconds left off a free throw by White. However, it looked all bad for the Warriors with five seconds left, with Bailey drawing a foul and sinking two free throws to put the Cougars up 69-68 with 4.5 seconds to go. Needing a clutch bucket, the Warriors got exactly that thanks to Parker, who took an inbound pass from White from the opposite free-throw line all the way to the left side of the basket, rolling a layup over an MVNU defender and off the glass for a buzzer-beating game-winner. 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME

POSTGAME PRESSER

Head coach Dr. Klint Pleasant had this to say on the big plays for RCU down the stretch:

"I think the key was a decision to dig in and simply bring more toughness. We did adjust a few defensive assignments, including switching a few actions that we didn't in the first half. But [MVNU] shot the ball incredibly well, even when we were defending well. It came down to a few possessions in which our toughness prevailed. And we made key shots at key times and executed much better in key stretches on the offensive end."

STAT OF THE GAME

Following this game, White and Parker currently rank third and fourth in the WHAC in points per game (20.6 and 19.6, respectively) as the season enters conference play. 

UP NEXT

RCU begins conference play with a big game on the road, taking on #RV Cornerstone at Mol Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Tip-off occurs at 7:30 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Dakota Shafer - RCU Athletics