Box Score GAME BOOK

NATCHITOCHES – Gary Roberson scored 5 of his 7 points in overtime, beginning with a 3-point play that put Northwestern State ahead to stay in a 66-61 triumph over Jacksonville State Friday night in college basketball as the Demons got 14 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocked shots from William Mosley.
 
Louis Ellis added a season-best 17 points, including a driving layup with five seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 55 and force overtime. Shamir Davis added 10 for Northwestern (3-3), which overcame a 9-point second-half deficit, and a 52-45 hole with under five minutes remaining.
 
Stephen Hall scored 16, Brian Williams 13 and Tarvin Gaines 10 for the Gamecocks (2-3), who were outshot 40 percent to 36 percent by NSU. The Demons hit 7 of 9 free throws in overtime after sinking only 15 of 29 in regulation.
 
Roberson drove the left side for a layup and added a free throw one minute into overtime, then hit two free throws with 2:36 left that moved NSU ahead 62-57.
 
Jacksonville State missed three 3-point tries in the final minute of overtime after a pair of free throws by Ronnie Boggs with 1:41 showing made it 62-59 NSU. Davis hit 3 of 4 free throws in the final 48 seconds to keep the Demons in control.

Northwestern closed the first half by allowing only one 3-point basket in the final 6:34 as part of  a 17-5 run over the last 9:55 as the Demons took a 29-27 edge at the break after trailing 22-13.

In the second half, down the stretch NSU mounted a 13-4 run over the final 9:13.  Jacksonville State hit only 2 of its last 7 shots and had 4 turnovers while its lead evaporated.

"I think we wore them down at the end of each half with our defensive intensity, thank goodness,” said Demons' coach Mike McConathy. “We just buckled down and defended very, very hard and gave ourselves opportunities.”
 
Led by Mosley, NSU had a 43-36 rebounding advantage.
 
Northwestern will play host to Arkansas-Little Rock Tuesday night at 7.