Huntingdon knocks off Belhaven in 2OT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Sophomore R.J. Jones hit a 3-pointer to put the Huntingdon men's basketball team in front for good in Saturday's 84-80 double overtime win against Belhaven University.

Jones' 3 gave the Hawks an 83-80 lead with 1:54 left in the second overtime. Jones sealed the game with one second left, hitting 1-of-2 from the free-throw line.

"We hung in there and found a way to win tonight," Huntingdon head coach Mike Pugh said. "We didn't play very well offensively and we turned the ball over too much, but we did a good job on the boards and we kept battling."

Jones, who is averaging 17 points per game this season, finished with a team-high 22 points for the Hawks (5-2) He hit a career-high seven 3-pointers and was 7-of-13 from 3-point range.

"R.J. hit some big shots tonight. I'm proud of him and all the guys," Pugh said. "To play the schedule we've played and have five wins already, I'm very pleased with where we are. We need to keep working and continue to get better as we move forward."

At 5-2, this is the best start for the Huntingdon men since the 2003-04 season. The Hawks are 4-0 at home this season.

For much of the first half and part of the second half, it looked like Huntingdon had the game well under control. The Hawks built an 18 point late in the first half and led 45-31 at halftime.

A 3-pointer by Jones gave Huntingdon a 50-31 lead in the first two minutes of the second half. But the 19-point lead slowly disappeared. The Blazers (2-4) used a 20-10 run to make it a nine-point game midway through the second half.

Belhaven took the lead in the final four minutes before the Hawks went ahead 74-72 on a 3-pointer by Jones with 57 seconds to play. Belhaven scored in the final seconds to tie the game and the Hawks missed a shot at the buzzer.

In the first overtime, Andre Ashley hit a pair of free throws to tie the game 78-78. Both teams had opportunities in the final seconds but neither team could capitalize.

In the second overtime, Charlie Johnson sank two free throws to put the Hawks ahead 80-78 before Belhaven answered. Jones' final 3 put the Hawks in front for good.

Behind Jones, Ashley finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Raheem Berry added 11 points and Jerrod Pettus followed with nine points and a season-high 15 rebounds and six assists. Freshman Brandon McLean pulled down nine rebounds and had two blocks.

Huntingdon returns to action on Dec. 20 in the Oglethorpe tournament.