SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- A late three pointer in regulation followed by a 9-0 run to open the overtime session thwarted the University of St. Francis men's basketball team's bid of upsetting NAIA No.22 ranked Indiana University South Bend on Wednesday night as the Titans held on for an 85-78 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory.

Micah Poole's three pointer with nine seconds to play eventually forced the overtime after both teams missed on chances to end the game after 40 minutes of play. The Saints (10-8, 6-7 CCAC) turned the ball over with less than two seconds remaining before IUSB (14-3, 10-1) failed to convert a layup at the buzzer.

The hosts then scored on four straight trips down the court to open the extra session building a 79-70 lead before the Saints attempted one final rally in the closing two minutes. They worked the deficit down to 81-78 with 78 seconds to play but would not score again in suffering the seven point defeat.

It also wrecked USF's comeback from a 13-point first half deficit that became five when the Saints scored the final seven points of the half to close to within 39-34. They eventually flipped the score with a string of 11 unanswered points to build their biggest lead of the contest at 56-48 with 8:20 remaining in regulation.

Indiana South Bend took a brief 63-62 lead with 2:58 to play before the Saints regained the edge – including 69-65 with 23 seconds left – until Poole's trey.

The Titans went 6-for-7 from the field and 2-for-3 at the foul line in the overtime session, while the Saints connected on all three of their free throws, but only 2-of-9 field goals.
For the game, IUSB shot 46.5 percent (33-of-71) to USF's 28-of-70 report (40 percent), which included connecting only eight times in 33 chances from three point range (24.2 pct.).

Joey Buggemi accounted for half of St. Francis' treys with his four enabling him to share game high scoring honors with IUSB's Dylan Allen. Both finished with 21 points.  USF's other two double figure scorers were EJ Charles (17 points) and Lewis Holey, who recorded a double double with his 10 points and game high 11 rebounds.

Russell Tillery contributed a game high seven assists.

IUSB countered with four players scoring in double figures. Besides Allen, Donyell Meredith provided 16 points and Poole and Kenny Washington, 13 each.

The two teams combined to record just 15 turnovers in the 45 minute game block.

Up Next
The Saints return home to face Judson University in a 3 pm tip off at the Sullivan Center.

Live coverage can be found at gofightingsaints.com/coverage. You can also keep up with all things USF on Twitter @USFSaints.