Despite a strong rally to claw back into Friday's season opener, Three Rivers College fell short of capturing a victory against Gulf Coast State College in the Midwest Bank Classic. The Commadores defeated the Raiders 93-90 in overtime.
GCSC was guided by former TRC star Lane Below, who received a strong ovation when his name was announced before the game.
With the game going into overtime, the Raiders turned a game once threatening to be a complete obliteration into a competitive matchup.
The game served as the home opener for TRC, and while the team trailed by 22 points during one portion of play, they fought back in the second half.
"I have to give Gulf Coast credit, they came out and hit us in the mouth with straight right hands and took it to us," TRC head coach Robert Kirby said after the game. We didn't respond until late in the game, and you just can't do that against good teams."
A three-pointer from freshman forward Aiden Caulkner gave the Commadores a 91-88 lead in overtime, which they failed to relinquish.
Caulkner finished the night with just 8 points, but his timely basket may have been the most pivotal conversion of the night.
The Raiders, led by 25 points from sophomore guard Matt Hampton and 25 points from fellow second-year player Antonio Williams, erased a 16-point deficit at halftime and rallied to trim the GCSC lead to just 2 late in the second half.
"We wore Matt down to a nub tonight, because he had to guard their best player while also performing the way he did," Kirby said.
TRC grabbed the lead several times deep into the second half, but couldn't permanently wrest the advantage from GCSC.
The Commadores were stimulated by 33 points from guard Trent Lincoln and won the tightly contested game due to timely free throw conversions from their key players.
GCSC guard Devontez Cobbs chipped in 23 points and nine rebounds to supplement Lincoln's scoring outburst.
Things got off to a horrendous start for TRC, as the Commadores pounced on the Raiders. Trailing 29-7 at one point, which expanded to 43-27 at the halftime mark, it would've been safe to assume that the contest wouldn't be close in the second half.
The Raiders proved that theory to be inaccurate, as they went on a 17-8 run in the second half to reduce the GCSC advantage.
"To our credit, we did at least wake up for the second half and play well, and I am proud of that," Kirby said. "We have to work on starting games the same way, and things will go differently then they did tonight."
The Raiders will match up Saturday evening at home against John A. Logan College at 7 p.m. For Kirby, execution will prove key if the Raiders seek to capture their first win of the season.
"Next man up, you have to step up and do your thing," he said. "They played tonight too, so we have to do what it takes to win tomorrow night."
Liaudwin Seaberry Jr. - Daily American Republic