GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A season-opening win was just within grasp for the Corban University Men's Basketball team today in snowy Montana, as the Warriors were held scoreless over the final minute of play to see overtime forced and eventually fell in the second game of the Holiday Inn Classic to the University of Providence. A furious comeback bid by the Argos allowed the tourney hosts to take an 82-77 decision in overtime to open each team's season.
"Man, that one hurt, our guys battled really hard tonight," Warriors' head coach Taylor Kelly shared following the overtime loss for his program to start the season. "It's always hard to win on the road. We have a new group with a bunch of guys trying to figure it out as a team. You always want to win and learn but sometimes you take one on the chin and you gather some information. This group will figure it out, they are as tough a group of guys as they come."
The Warriors (0-1) took advantage of their fast paced offense to start the contest, converting on a handful of possessions to lead early on Providence's home court. The officials allowed the two teams to play without too many fouls being called throughout the beginning of the first half, as each team had committed just two fouls apiece shortly following the ten minute mark.
Corban was able to hold their lead through a majority of the opening half, but a massive run by the Argos (1-0) quickly cut their six-point lead into an eight-point deficit with just over five minutes remaining before the halftime break. Despite falling behind, the Warriors remained steadfast in keeping within striking distance, and even managed to retake the lead with less than two minutes left in the half.
Both programs exchanged buckets to end the opening period, with the Warriors clinging to a one-point lead at 35-34. Senior guard Dirk Helaire II controlled the narrative offensively for both teams through the first twenty minutes of play, scoring nine points to lead all players and adding a pair of boards. Corban senior guard Taylor Anderson was right on the heels of Helaire II with eight points himself.
Before Providence could jump out to a massive lead in front of their home fans once again, senior guard Reece Van Lierop struck fire from beyond the three-point line, hitting three times from behind the arc including back-to-back threes and a four-point play to singlehandedly give the Warriors a 58-57 lead.
Locked in a 64-all draw with under three minutes remaining, the Argos began administering full-court defense in an attempt to disrupt Coach Kelly's offense. Despite an intensity increase from Providence, the Warriors held strong down the stretch and were able to secure a two-point advantage with one minute remaining in the contest.
A costly mistake by Corban on their next possession allowed Providence one final offensive attempt with eleven seconds remaining, and on their own half of the floor to fully set up their play and execute with a chance to either force overtime or win the game in comeback fashion. Fortunately for Warrior Nation, they opted for the two-point play and forward Jamil Bowles bailed out his teammate's arrant layup for a putback slam with 4.6 seconds left on the scoreboard.
Coach Kelly utilized his final timeout to setup a game-winning scenario for his program, while Providence then mirrored with their own full timeout in an attempt to "ice" Corban's offense, with the contest knotted at 69 points apiece. The Argos' reverse psychology worked to perfection, as redshirt sophomore guard Nikola Milosevic's three-point heavy at the buzzer came up just short and sent both teams to an overtime period in their first game of the season.
The momentum that Providence held at the end of regulation carried into the overtime period they needed in order to secure an 82-77 victory today, as the Warriors grew cold at the exact wrong moment, costing them a road victory to start the 2023-24 season.
Senior guard Collin Warmouth led the Warriors with 16 points this afternoon, adding eight rebounds to fall just two shy of a double-double. Helaire II and Anderson followed with 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Anderson and Warmouth each dealt out a quartet of assists.
Argos' guard Davien Harris-Williams held the game-high scoring mark with 26 points in a fiery second half for Providence, connecting on 9-of-14 field goal attempts, hauling in eight rebounds, and dealing out seven assists to do a little of everything for the home team. Bowles' game-tying basket gave the forward 13 points for the contest and added a game-high nine rebounds.
The Warriors will conclude their first of two Montana trips tomorrow with an early tipoff against Rocky Mountain College (1-0), which is scheduled for a 10am MT, 9am PT start time.
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