PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College men’s basketball team won two out of three at its home NWAC crossover tournament this weekend, going to the wire to win two close games Sunday and Friday.
The Pirates beat Pierce College 56-55, coming back from a Pierce 22-3 run in the second half. Peninsula also won 63-589 in overtime against Big Bend on Friday, again coming from way back to pull the game out.
Peninsula also lost 87-63 on Saturday to 9-2 Lane. After Sunday’s game, the Pirates have won five out of their past six games and sit at 7-5 on the season.
On Sunday, Peninsula got up big 38-26 early in the second half, but Pierce went on a huge run to take a 48-41 lead with 8:47 left in the game.
The Pirates clawed back into it thanks to 3-pointers from Jaiden Blackmon and Akeem Sulaiman and a stifling defense that did not allow Pierce to score over the final 3:24 of the game.
Antonio Odum scored the go-ahead basket with 1:11 to play on a layup. Pierce had a layup attempt with 47 seconds left, but Sulaiman blocked the shot and got the rebound.
After a Peninsula turnover, Pierce held the ball for a final shot, but a 3-point attempt with 3 seconds left wouldn’t fall.
Sulaiman finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Isaiah Lopez made five 3-pointers, all in the first half, and finished with 17 points. Blackmon had 12 points and six assists and Odum six assists.
Saturday’s Game Lane 87, Peninsula 63
Peninsula’s four-game winning streak was snapped Saturday by Lane, which shot lights out in the second half and scored 47 points. The Titans shot 6-for-8 on their 3-pointers and 11-for-13 on their free throws in the second half.
“I saw a lot of good things in that game. There’s a lot of growth ahead of us,” said coach Bryce Jacobson. “That was a good Lane team. They got hot in the second half. They’re No. 1 in the NWAC in made 3-point field goals and No. 1 in 3-point percentage. They’re good in the South. We’re a good team in the North.
“Our goal is to be playing our best basketball in March. We’ve still won four out of our last five.” Jacobson said.
The game was actually close early in the second half as Peninsula clawed back from a 19-1 first-half run by the Titans to tie it at 40-40 on an Sulaiman bucket. Lane got back up 51-40, but Cinco McNeal closed the gap with two straight baskets, first a 3-pointer then a 2-pointer, to make it 51-45.
That was the closest Peninsula got for the rest of the game as Lane blew the contest open with a 21-3 run and the Pirates were never able to get back in the game.
Sulaiman had a great all-around game with 20 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Lopez hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 14.
Friday’s Game Peninsula 63, Big Bend 58 OT
Lopez made a 3-point shot with 12 seconds left in the game to knot the contest up at 55-55. It was one of five 3-pointers Lopez hit in the game as he finished with 23 points. It was the Pirates’ fourth-straight win and the second time they had beaten Big Bend this year.
Big Bend appeared to have the game in hand up nine points, 50-41 with 2:15 left in regulation. Lopez sparked the comeback with a 3-pointer with 2:02 left in the game. He added a field goal as he scored eight points in the final two minutes. McNeal also scored four points in the final 90 seconds.
In overtime, Lopez hit another 3-pointer, the only field goal either team made in overtime and the Pirates added five free throws. In all, Lopez scored 13 points in the final two minutes and overtime. The Pirates’ defense held Big Bend to 0-for-5 in overtime.
DeShawn Rushmeyer had 14 points and five steals. He also hit three 3-pointers.
