Cohill’s buzzer-beater lifts Penguins past Raiders in triple OT

Story courtesy YSU Sports
Senior Dwayne Cohill's layup as time expired lifted the Youngstown State men's basketball team to a 91-89 triple overtime victory over Wright State on Thursday night at the Beeghly Center.
Cohill's heroics came after a Wright State's Trey Calvin hit a jumper to tie the game at 89-89 with 6.2 left in the third overtime.
The Penguins, who improve 18-6 overall and 10-3 in the Horizon League, led 83-79 in the final extra frame after a pair of free throws by Adrian Nelson and a layup by Cohill.
Calvin knotted the game at 85-85, then again at 87-87 after two Cohill free throws, and a third time at 89-89 following Malek Green's layup with 25 seconds left.
Nelson posted his 10th double-double of the year with 27 points and 15 rebounds, both tying career highs, and a career-high six steals while Green added a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Nelson played a team-best 52:46 whle Cohill saw just a shade under 52 minutes of court action.
Cohill poured in 19 points with eight assists and five rebounds while Brandon Rush added 15 points and seven rebounds. Cohill was 10-of-10 from the free-throw line to lead the offensive effort.
Calvin led the Raiders (13-11, 6-7 Horizon League) with 44 points and AJ Braun added 12 points.
The nip-and-tuck contest featured 16 ties and nine lead changes. The game was tied 62-62 at the end of regulation, 68-68 at the end of the first overtime and 79-79 at the end of the second overtime. It marked the first regular-season sweep of the Raiders in program history and was YSU's first triple-OT win since 1984.
In regulation, the Penguins took a 32-29 lead into the locker room after Cohill drilled a 3-point to break a 29-all deadlock. YSU's biggest lead of the night came two minutes into the second half at 38-31, but a 7-0 run by the Raiders quickly tied the contest. With 9:17 remaining, WSU was on top 54-46 before the Guins went on a 9-1 run in a span of 4:23 to battle back and tie the game.
In the waning moments of regulation, the Guins led 62-57, but WSU scored the last five points to force the first extra session.
Youngstown State closes out its four-game homestand against Northern Kentucky, Saturday, Feb. 4. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Beeghly Center. Both the Norse and Guins enter the contest with 10-3 Horizon League marks and a in a three-way tie for first with Milwaukee.