No. 13 Baylor and No. 22 St. John’s played a thriller at the Bahamas Championship on Thursday night, going to double overtime and ending on a buzzer-beater.
The Bears got the win in spectacular fashion with Jeremy Roach nailing a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded for a 99-98 victory.
Zuby Ejiofor set up Roach’s heroics by missing two free throws that would have extended the St. John’s lead to four points with 4.1 seconds left. Norchad Omier rebounded the second miss for Baylor and got the ball upcourt to Roach, who took two dribbles to the 3-point arc and launched his game-winning shot.
St. John’s held a 39-21 lead with 5:29 remaining in the first half and had a 14-point margin at halftime. However, Baylor rallied to outscore the Red Storm 47-33 in the second half. The Bears actually took a 7774 lead on a Roach 3-pointer with 1:48 remaining in regulation. But the Red Storm scored three on a RJ Luis Jr. free throw and Kadary Richmond floater to tie the score and force overtime.
In double overtime, St. John’s had a 98-93 lead with 18 seconds remaining. But a 3-pointer by VJ Edgecombe closed the Bears to within two points before Ejiofor’s fateful final two free throws.
Roach finished with 20 points for Baylor, shooting 3-for-5 on 3-pointers with four assists. Omier led the Bears with 24 points, three steals and 10 rebounds, none more important than the last one which led to Roach’s game-winning shot. Baylor has won four consecutive games.
Ejiofor led St. John’s with 22 points, but it’s the two he didn’t get at the end that will unfortunately be memorable. The junior forward also grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked five shots. Aaron Scott added 20 points off the bench, followed by Luis Jr.’s 16 for the Red Storm, who took their first loss of the season.
Baylor will face the winner of Thursday night’s Tennessee-Virginia matchup, the start of which was delayed by the Bears and Red Storm playing two extra periods. St. John’s will play the loser of that contest in the third-place game. Both will be played Friday.