DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Wildcats gifted Moore Gymnasium one more thriller in their home finale as they bested Alabama State, 90-84 in overtime. 



Back-to-back threes from Jakobi Heady and Dhashon Dyson put Bethune-Cookman (14-14, 9-6 SWAC) up 11-5 through five minutes of play. Alabama State (12-16, 7-8 SWAC) 

Heady's fall-away jumper made it a 21-12 advantage eight mintutes into the contest as the Wildcats started 8-10 from the field and a perfect 3-3 from three. 

Despite being out-shot by over 11 attempts through the first 13 minutes of the game, the Wildcats maintained a 31-22 lead heading into the under-eight media break behind 13 early points from Heady.

The Wildcat lead reached double figures at 36-25 after an Elijah Hulsewe and-one with five to play in the half.  They led by as much as 13 through the game's first 20 minutes. 

The Wildcats entered halftime up 47-36 behind three double-digit scorers in heady, Dhashon Dyson, and Reggie Ward Jr.

Alabama State wasted no time climbing back into the game after the breaak, cutting the deficit to one on a 12-2 run before Dyson stopped the bleeding with midrange jumper that made it 51-48. 

The Hornets tied things at 53-all at the under 12-media on a TJ Madlock pullup. They took the lead at the free throw as Amarr Knox put the Hornets up 54-53.

The squads traded baskets and leads, again finding themselves all square at 61-61 with seven minutes to play. 

Heady's jumper made it a five-point game with just 1:45 to play.

Trailing just 68-65 with 30 seconds to play, the Hornets inbounded the ball and took things all the way down to 10 seconds, as Madlock made both free throws to make it a one-point game, but Harmon took care of business at the Charity stripe to bring the lead back up to three with eight seconds to play.

The two sides traded free throws again before Seneca Willougby was whistled for a three-point foul on the final possession of regulation. Madlock made all three, and the game headed into overtime. 

Two quick buckets for Dyson put the Cats up 76-75. Zion's steal and score made it a three-point game with three to play.

Harmon's hot hand continued as an and-one and deep three made it a two-possession lead once again at 84-79 with just a minute and a half to go. A flagrant foul gave B-CU two shots and the ball to keep the cushion at four with a minute remaining. 

An Alabama State turnover with 14 seconds to play all but shut the door on a Hornets win, and B-CU closed out the 90-84 win. 

• Jakobi Heady finished the night with a double-double with 24 points, 10 boards, as well as an assist and a steal.
• Zion Harmon also finished with 20 points. He added three boards, six assists, and two steals.
• Dyashon Dyson, Reggie Ward Jr., and DJ Carter-Hollinger also scored in double figures for B-CU, with the latter adding 10 boards for a double-double of his own. 
• 36 B-CU points game in the paint. 
• The Wildcats scored 14 points off 10 Hornets turnovers.

   

Monday night's game wraps up the home slate at Moore Gymnasium for the 2023-24 season. The Wildcats will continue to push for their SWAC playoff seeding with three remaining road games on the regular season.

The first those three contests is set for Saturday, March 2 at 3:30 p.m. EST, as the Wildcats take on Southern. 


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