MBA Advances to Final Four With Dramatic Double Overtime Win

It might have only been the first day of March, but the madness was in full effect Saturday night for MBA. In a game that will be remembered by all in attendance for quite some time, the Big Red defeated Pope St. John Paul II on the road, 80-78, in two overtimes to secure a spot in the TSSAA Division II-AA Final Four this Friday in Cookeville.

    

The Big Red overcame deficits in the final minute of both the fourth quarter and the first overtime period to stay in the fight. Trailing by six in regulation, it was a Reed Rzasnicki ('25) three-pointer, a physical Mill Chapman ('25) finish in the paint, and a pair of made free throws from Collin O'Neal ('25) with 5.3 seconds to go that allowed MBA to extend the game. Then, senior Kevin Die' matched O'Neal by hitting a pair from the free throw stripe to tie the game with 1.2 seconds remaining in the first overtime period.

   

Only adding to the heroics of the night in Hendersonville was the foul trouble MBA faced in a game officiated with a tight whistle. Three starters were fouled out on the bench in the second overtime, including the Big Red's top two scorers in the game - Chapman (25) and O'Neal (21). That only allowed others to emerge on the box score, including senior AJ Black, who hit a key three-pointer and was clutch from the free throw stripe.