Loretto, PA – Junior
Melvin Council Jr.'s game-winner with two seconds remaining in overtime led the Wagner College men's basketball team to a 65-63 overtime win at Saint Francis U on Thursday night.
Council played with a heavy heart after attending his grandfather's funeral on Wednesday and arrived in Loretto separately from the rest of the team.
"This win was bigger than basketball," head coach
Donald Copeland commented after the game. "We are all here to support Melvin through this tough time in his life and couldn't be happier that the ball found him on the final play of the game. I'm proud of Melvin and our entire team tonight as we fought and earned another tough road win."
Council led the Seahawks with 20 points and eight rebounds, while junior
Tahron Allen added 12 points. Sophomore
Keyontae Lewis was the third Seahawk in double figures with 10 points.
In a game that featured 11 ties and seven lead changes, neither team scored during the final 1:43 minutes of regulation, forcing the game into overtime.
Trailing 61-59 with under two minutes to play in the extra period, Council tied the game with a steal and a dunk, before sending the Seahawks home victorious with time winding down.
The Seahawks held a 36-33 edge on the glass and 19-7 advantage in points from turnovers throughout the contest.
Next up, Wagner will host Sacred Heart in a nationally televised contest on ESPN+ on Saturday at 4:00 pm.
