SPORTS

 

DAVIDSON – Jon Axel Gudmundsson had a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Kellan Grady scored 21 while guarding Rhode Island’s Fatts Russell as Davidson knocked off the Rams 77-75 in overtime Saturday night in Belk Arena.

Rhode Island (19-7, 11-3) entered the game having won 11 of its previous 12 and in second place in the Atlantic 10, while Davidson (14-12, 8-6) was coming off a heartbreaking one-point loss at Saint Joseph’s.

But coach Bob McKillop pushed his guys to bounce back, and they answered the call.

“We never lost the will to win,” he said. “Our guys emptied their tank.”

Davidson closed the game on a 7-2 run after the Rams led 73-70 in overtime. Grady made a jumper with 1:58 left, and Gudmundsson tied it by hitting one of two free throws at the 57-second mark.

Bates Jones rebounded the miss and was subsequently fouled. He drained both free throws, giving the Wildcats a 75-73 lead with 56 seconds to play. A Gudmundsson foul shot with 15 seconds left pushed the lead to 76-73, and Davidson opted to foul Jeff Dowtin, who hit both of his foul shots with eight ticks left.

After Luka Brajkovic hit a foul shot to make it 77-75, Tyrese Martin’s desperation trey from half court hit the rim as the buzzer expired.

One of the top scorers in the league, Russell struggled to a 3-of-18 shooting night, but his long 3-pointer with six seconds left in regulation tied the game at 68 and forced overtime.

Grady scored 14 of his points in the first half, as the Wildcats built a 38-30 lead.

Nelson Boachie-Yiadom made his second straight start and finished with eight points and six rebounds, and Bates Jones pulled down three key offensive boards down the stretch.