Knights Nail Three-Pointers in Overtime to Outlast CCNY

Felix Llanos tossed in seven of his 19 points in overtime against CCNY. - Photo by Gary Mikel

New York, NY - After struggling from the perimeter for most of the first 40 minutes, the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team buried buried its first three 3-point field goal attempts in the overtime frame and held on to defeat the City College of New York, 68-60, in a non-league match up Wednesday afternoon.

The Golden Knights improved to 6-2 on the season in their first game in the past 16 days, while CCNY dropped to 2-7. Clarkson takes on Elms College and Westfield State on Sunday and Monday at the Williams Tournament in Massachusetts.

Following a quick basket to start the game, Clarkson ran off seven straight points to take an early five-point lead, but that advantage would quickly be reduced as CCNY and the Knights battled back-and-forth throughout the opening 20 minutes, with 11 lead changes and three ties in the first half. Clarkson shot only 7-for-29 (24%) from the floor and made just three of the 14 3-point attempts in the first period, but the team was dead on from the free throw line, making eight shots in as many chances.

In the second half, Clarkson regained a five-point lead midway through the second half when Shawn Lasalita (San Diego, CA) made a 3-pointer, giving the Knights a 43-38 lead, but the Beavers went on a 10-0 run to take the lead. Once again, the game tightened up, and neither team could maintain its momentum. Junior guard Felix Llanos (Queens, NY) had a chance to end the contest in regulation, but his jumper dinged off the rim as time elapsed, sending the game into an extra session.

It was in that overtime that Clarkson finally found its shooting stroke, making four of six shots in the five-minute overtime, with all but one of those shots coming from the outside. Llanos made a 3-pointer on his first shot of the overtime, and senior Rey Jefferson (Budd Lake, NY) buried his next two attempts from long range to give Clarkson a lead it would not relinquish. Llanos closed out the overtime with a lay up and a pair of free throws, scoring seven of his 19 points in overtime.

Jefferson led all scorers with a career-best 24 points, adding in six rebounds, five steals and three assists. Senior Jonathan Hood (Cortlandt Manor, NY) came up only one rebound short of another double-double, posting 10 points and nine boards. For CCNY Matas Rascius scored 15 points and added in 11 rebounds.

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