Valley claims double-OT victory

Junior Roc Rogers made big buckets down the stretch as the Vikings won in two overtimes. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

If the Missouri Valley College men make the eight-team field for the Heart of America Conference Basketball Tournament, they'll probably look back at Thursday's 56-50 double-overtime win over visiting Culver-Stockton as critical to that effort.

The Vikings had lost four of five league home games, and were in danger of further damaging their prospects by blowing a 10-point lead over the final six minutes of regulation.

The middle two of four straight turnovers resulted in a three-pointer and free throw by freshman Taylor Perrigo to tie the contest with 18 seconds left.

The Wildcats had only led once -- by a point in the middle of the first half -- and had trailed by as many as 13 points during the second period, but a three-pointer by senior Brice Fantazia put them up 48-46 with 1:38 left in the first OT.

Fortunately for Valley, junior Bryant Porter rebounded junior Roc Rogers' errant bomb and junior Patrick McDermott fed Rogers inside for a bucket with 53 seconds left.

Fantazia missed two long jumpers, while the Vikings turned the ball over and didn't get off a shot down the stretch.

Rogers hit from outside to begin the second extra frame, then dished to junior Rouven Haenig in the paint for a five-point lead with 3:11 to go. Neither team was able to score again until Rogers sank two freebies with 20 seconds remaining to seal the Valley win.

Fantazia's 16 points and four assists led Culver-Stockton (4-18, 4-9 HAAC), which fell into a three-way tie with the Vikings and Avila for seventh place in the league standings.

Valley had double-doubles from two players, Haenig with 18 points and 13 rebounds and Rogers with 14 points and 13 boards -- and survived a 22-10 turnover deficit and 35.0-percent shooting from the field by limiting the visitors to 24.6 percent and controlling the glass by a 54-32 margin.

The Vikings (8-12, 4-9) will host William Woods for a non-conference tilt Monday before returning to league play Thursday against Lindenwood.