BEAUMONT, Texas - The Omaha Men's Basketball team got huge nights from
Lance Waddles and
Paul Djobet as well clutch free throws in the final minute of overtime from
Ja'Sean Glover and
Kamryn Thomas in an 85-82 win over Lamar on Saturday night at Beaumont, Texas.
It is the fourth straight win for Omaha, which led by 15 early in the second half before Lamar rallied to force overtime. The Mavericks are 5-1 in their last six.
Tied 78-78 early in overtime, Glover made two free throws, a layup and later another free throw to give Omaha an 83-80 lead with 25.4 seconds left.
After Lamar hit two free throws, Thomas sank a pair with 2.5 seconds left. Glover then intercepted the inbounds pass to secure the win.
"We showed some great mental toughness," head coach
Chris Crutchfield said Saturday, which happened to be his birthday. "Most of the time when a team loses a lead that leads to overtime, you lose momentum. But I told the guys (before overtime), you be the tougher team."
Waddles finished with 25 points, one off his career high, before fouling out with 14 seconds left. Djobet dazzled in his Omaha debut as he scored 16 of his career-high 22 points in the first half.
Omaha led most of the way, thanks to an early run.
Omaha dug itself an 8-2 deficit in the first three minutes before it outscored Lamar 22-4 over the next seven minutes.
Waddles and Djobet sparked that run as they combined to hit nine of their first 10 field-goal attempts.
They hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 24-12 midway through the first half.
Djobet continued his torrid Maverick debut the rest of the first half. When Djobet converted a three-point play with 2:02 left in the half, he had 16 points while going 6-of-7 from the field.
A putback by freshman
Brock Scholl gave Omaha a 43-32 lead at halftime, then the Mavs stretched the margin to 49-34 on a
Tony Osburn three with 16:40 left.
That was the largest lead of the night, and thanks in large part to Waddles, Omaha led by double figures most of the second half. Waddles scored 12 of his points during a seven-point stretch midway through the half. His three with seven minutes left made it 68-55.
But Lamar's used pressure defense to score 10 straight and eventually tied it 76-76 by sinking free throws with 2.5 seconds left.
Omaha missed a desperation shot at the buzzer, but the Mavs came through with clutch shots in the extra period.
Omaha also got a big night from Scholl, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes.
Omaha will be off until Sunday, Dec. 28 when it will play at Big Ten opponent Oregon at 7 p.m. CT.
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