PITTSBURGH, Pa. - It took five extra minutes for the final horn to buzz in the Kerr Fitness Center, but in the end, La Roche men's basketball prevailed over Penn State Altoona, 106-102, in an overtime classic to start their season series.
The offenses were on full display in the first half, as they both lit up the scoreboard, combining for 94 points in the opening 20-minutes of play.
It was back-and-forth throughout the first half, as neither team could pull to a lead greater than one possession, until Altoona did so with 8:10 remaining, taking a 33-27 lead.
Over the next three minutes, a 10-2 La Roche run lifted the Redhawks in front, 37-35, but a 7-0 Lions run pushed the edge back to 42-37, only for La Roche to counter-punch with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 42-42 with 1:55 to go in the half.
The final 1:35 went Altoona's way, scoring eight of the final 10 points, taking a 50-44 edge into the locker room.
Out of halftime, things began to look bleek for the moment, as the Lions used the first five minutes of the second half to open a 12-point, 66-54 lead. That didn't deter the Redhawks, as they fought back with an 8-0 run, cutting the deficit to 66-62 over the next two minutes.
Altoona would build the lead back up to seven, 74-67, at the 10:38 mark, but La Roche had another answer, using a 10-1 run, taking its first lead since the first half, 77-75, with 7:38 to go in regulation.
Neither team budged the next four minutes, but after being tied 84-84, the red and white used a 5-0 run that put the Lions briefly on their heels with 3:16 remaining.
Still trailing 92-88 with under 1 minute remaining, Altoona pulled through with a pair of buckets with 48 seconds and then 11 seconds remaining, to tie the game and force overtime.
An and-one opportunity put the Redhawks ahead to open overtime and then the two traded blows. With 1:30 remaining in the overtime period, the Lions again tied the game at 102-102 with a three-pointer.
Ultimately, the final stretch of play was all La Roche, connecting on four free-throws and holding a pair of Altoona possessions to zero points, coming away with the victory.
For the game, the Redhawks shot 40-for-79 from the field (50.6%), 9-for-26 from three (34.6%) and 17-for-27 from the foul-line (63%).
On the other side, the Lions shot 37-72 from the floor (51.4%), 14-for-30 from deep (46.7%) and 14-for-17 from the charity stripe (82.4%).
Major Rainey had a career afternoon for the Redhawks, as he scored a career-high 34 points on 12-for-19 shooting, including 4-for-6 from three, all while securing a double-double with 15 rebounds, also three assists and a pair of blocks.
Bryce Epps followed with a 25 point performance, adding seven rebounds and three assists, while Cooper Rankin's hot stretch of play continued with 14 points, four rebounds, seven assists and a pair of steals.
Logan Golle followed with 12 points, while Brandon Bell was the fifth player in double figures, falling just a rebound short of a double-double, ending with 11 points and nine rebounds.
The Redhawks stay home for their next matchup and have another big one on the docket, as they face Pitt-Greensburg on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7 pm, with second place on the line to close the front half of AMCC play.