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Mennenga’s Last-Second Free Throw Lifts ‘Cats over Saint Joseph’s

by | Feb 20, 2023

With 1 second on the clock, Sam Mennenga went to the line for 2 free throws. He hit the first to give the ‘Cats the lead, and it looked as though he intentionally missed the second catching the Hawks off guard.

 

DAVIDSON, N.C.Sam Mennenga’s free throw with one second remaining lifted Davidson to a 76-75 come-from-behind victory over Saint Joseph’s in Atlantic 10 men’s basketball action Saturday inside John M. Belk Arena.

The Wildcats, who had dropped eight straight games decided by five points or less, improve to 12-14 overall and 5-9 in league play.

Mennenga and Foster Loyer paced five Davidson players in double figures with 17 points each. Desmond Watson added 13, David Skogman had 12 off the bench and Grant Huffman finished with 10.

On the game’s final possession, Mennenga grabbed his only rebound of the contest following a Watson 3-point attempt, and was fouled on the put back. The redshirt junior intentionally missed his second free throw, which prevented the Hawks from having one final look.

Trailing 56-51 midway through the second half, the Wildcats used a 16-6 run, highlighted by a Loyer triple and steal that led to a Huffman run out, to take a 62-57 advantage, their first since it was 8-7.

Saint Joseph’s (13-14, 7-8 A-10) erased a late four-point deficit and evened the score, 75-75, with 20 seconds to go on a Rasheer Fleming layup.

Like the Wildcats, the Hawks placed five players in double digits, led by Cameron Brown’s 17, but got zero points from their four reserves.

After falling behind 35-25 with 2:48 left in the opening period, Davidson closed with an 11-4 spurt to trail 39-36 at the half.

Up Next
Davidson will conclude its brief homestand Wednesday when St. Bonaventure visits Belk Arena for a 7 p.m. tip.

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