Larson takes advantage of second chance to hit game-winner as C-SC men move into fifth place

MARSHALL, Mo. — The Culver-Stockton College men’s basketball team got late-game heroics for the second straight game to claim a 73-72 victory over Missouri Valley College Wednesday night in a Heart of America Athletic Conference game.

The Wildcats trailed 72-70 when Seth Larson had his 3-point attempt from the right corner blocked with eight seconds remaining in regulation.  C-SC’s Tai Walters-Whitaker grabbed the rebound from the block and found Larson on the left wing. Larson drained the 3-pointer this time with 4.8 seconds left to give the Wildcats the lead.

After a MVC timeout, the Vikings’ Cawhan Smith took the inbounds pass and went the length of the floor before missing an eight-foot runner as time expired.

It was the second time in as many games the Wildcats got a late trey to win a game. Walters-Whitaker drained a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left last Saturday to lift the Wildcats to a 74-72 victory over Benedictine at Charles Field House.

C-SC is now tied (with Missouri Valley) for fifth place in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with identical 10-9 league records. The Wildcats are 12-11 overall. C-SC and the Vikings split the season series, with each team winning on the other’s home court. The Wildcats have won four consecutive games and five of their six contests.

The game was tight throughout with 11 ties and 20 lead changes in the game. C-SC led 34-31 at halftime and extended the lead to eight, its biggest of the game, when Larson scored on a layup with 16 minutes left in the game.

The Vikings stayed in the game by going 18-for-20 from the free-throw line in the second half, finishing 21-for-25 overall. The Wildcats made just 7 of 10 free throws in the game.

Larson led three Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 21 points. Connor Davis added 13 points while Robert Fry II ended with 12. Fry dished out a team-high five assists.

The Wildcats are slated to play at Grand View University this Saturday, Feb. 10, in Des Moines, Iowa. Game time is set for 4 p.m.