The Cleveland State Community College Cougars and Lady Cougars kicked off their NJCAA/TCCAA Region 7 campaign in fine fashion on Saturday afternoon in L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium with a pair of big wins over Volunteer State. The Lady Cougars cruised to win over the Lady Pioneers to start the day by a final score of 74-50, while the Cougars built a big league in the men's contest and then held on for dear life and needed some buzzer-beating heroics from Marcus Averhart to post a 67-64 win.

 

"I'll take a win any way I can get it," said a relieved first-year Cougar head coach Rafael Howard. "We've got a lot of young guys and they are still learning how to win. We built a big lead and then we kind of let down and you see what happened. I'm proud of the way we found a way, and Marcus came up with the big shot which was nice, but we still have a lot to work on and learn that you have to play a full 40 minutes. But, overall it was a big conference win and we'll take it."

 

The Cougars started the game with the hot hand as they zipped out to an 18-8 advantage. Miguel Shaw and K'Juan Banks each hit a driving shot in the paint for the home team while Tony Sapp and Khris Green connected from downtown to help the cause.

 

The Cougars would hold a 35-22 halftime edge and picked up right where they left off to start the second half with an 11-2 run to take their largest lead of the day at 46-24.

 

Volunteer State found another gear and a fresh breathe of energy with just over 10 minutes to go in the contest and began to cut into the lead rapidly. The Pioneers went to a pressing full-court defense which turned the momentum in their favor. Terrence Cross hit several driving layups and Antuan Williams added a pair of threes as the visitors sliced the lead to single digits with just under five minutes to play.

 

Peyton West and Cross each converted a 3-point play in crunch time as the Pioneers completed their comeback to tie the game at 64-all with 15 seconds to go. The Pioneers had two trips down the court to take the lead in the final seconds, but each time the Cougars D came up with the big steal.

 

As time ticked down under 10 seconds, Marcus Averhart came out of the pack with the loose ball, took two dribbles, crossed the half court line and let fly with a 45-footer. The buzzer sounded as they ball was in flight, and just like coach Howard would draw it up, the ball sizzled the net for the incredible game-winner and the celebration was on.

 

Banks paced the Cougars with 19 points while Green and Averhart added 12 apiece. Cross led Volunteer State with 18 points while Williams added 17.