LONGVIEW, TEXAS -- In a thriller in the Lonestar State, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars (2-1, 1-0 NACC) staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the War Hawks of McMurry University (0-3, 0-0 SCAC) in overtime. Despite trailing the War Hawks the majority of the game, the Cougars found a way to battle back and secure the victory in a fairytale fashion.
 
INSIDE THE BOX

• Jacob Collicott (Lafayette, Ind.) picked up a career-high 34 points and seven steals while adding in two blocks, five assists, and seven rebounds.
• Joel Watts (Homewood, Ill.) picked up a career-high 18 points and six steals while tacking on six rebounds and one assist.
• Ryker Johnson (Fond du Lac, Wis.) joined the party and tacked on a career-high seven points and five rebounds.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
The Cougars struck first after a baseline drive from Collicott found space in the paint to put the Cougars up 2-0 to start the game. The War Hawks answered quickly and pulled a fast break three to steal the lead. The Cougars would be hit a drought after a series of four missed field goals would put them in a seven point deficit, but steal from Collicott would give space for Kenton Pryor (Hazel Crest, Ill.) to find a layup in the paint to break the lid off the basket.
 
 
Working from a deficit, a pull-up just outside the paint from Tallis Lowery (Fairview Heights, Ill.) would make it a two possession game. The War Hawks would continue to press on and jump back out to as much as a ten point lead. The Cougars would slowly chip away at their deficit with free throws from Collicott, Watts, and Darrian Williams (Garland, Texas), but would quickly fall back into a ten point deficit once again.
 
 
The War Hawks would control the remainder of the first half and jump out to a 16-point lead heading into intermission. Despite the Cougars and the War Hawks competing fairly even in turnovers, points in the paint, and bench points, the War Hawks shot nearly 30% better from the floor, giving them the advantage after the first 20 minutes of play.
 
SECOND HALF
Needing a fire lit beneath them, the Cougars came out hot and went on an 8-0 run to bring them back within reach. Despite making an early run, the Cougars consistently trailed by double-digits until a layup from Sean Beckman (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) brought them within nine. The Cougars continued to put pressure on the War Hawks. A jumper outside the paint from Collicott paired with an immediate steal and fast break layup from the senior guard would bring the Cougars within six points for the first time 6:13 remaining in the first half.
 
 
A layup from Liam Cameron (Ventura, Calif.) would bring the Cougars within three, but a 7-0 run for the War Hawks would leave the Cougars once again trailing by ten. With time ticking down, the Cougars hit crunch time and found their second wind. A Collicott layup paired with a Lowery steal and Johnson fast break layup would bring the Cougars within five with just over two minutes to play. A pair of free throws for Collicott paired with a steal from Williams and dagger three from Watts, the Cougars would be trailing by one with under a minute left. With a singular free throw made for the War Hawks, a layup from Watts would tie the score at 90 and send the game into overtime.
 
OVERTIME
Despite the War Hawks holding the lead the entirety of the second half, the Cougars would steal the lead early in overtime. Despite jumping ahead by one off a Collicott steal and fast break layup, the War Hawks would double-down and extend their lead by four.
 
 
Layups from Williams and Watts would level the score once again, but with under two minutes to play, the War Hawks would jump ahead by two. Despite three missed shots, the Cougars would put the ball in the hands of Collicott who would find himself at the charity stripe where he would put both away and tie the game at 100. With .09 seconds remaining on the clock in the first period of overtime, the Cougars would force a turnover and inbound the ball on the near sideline in the backcourt. With a mere catch and shoot opportunity, Collicott would inbound the ball for a quick release from Watts to find its way into the basket and give the Cougars the fairytale comeback victory.
 
 
 
The Cougars return to play tomorrow as they close out their time in the LeTourneau Classic with a head-to-head matchup with the host team. Tipoff is set for 4:00 pm and coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.