Box Score

DANVILLE, Va. — Averett scored in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, then beat LaGrange College 90-86 in USA South Conference on Sunday at the Grant Center.

Averett 8-12, 4-6 USA South) tied LaGrange at the start of the second half, but the Panthers quickly began to pull away. LaGrange (8-10, 2-8 USA South) went ahead by as many as 17 points when Mark Wagner's 3-pointer put the Panthers in front 62-45 with 12:55 to play in the second period. Averett, however, continued to fight and chip away. The Cougars eventually closed the gap to 74-72 with 2:55 to go.

LaGrange led 78-74 with under a minute to go before senior Justin Pierce hit a pair of free throws to bring Averett back within two. A Panthers turnover gave Averett an opportunity, but the Cougars turned it over themselves. Luckily, Averett forced another LaGrange turnover when the Cougars drew a charge with 19.1 seconds to play. Pierce's baseline jumper at the other end missed long, but junior Paul Porter was there to clean up the rebound and got the game-tying putback with 5.6 seconds left on the clock. LaGrange missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime tied at 78-78.

In the extra period, Averett opened the overtime with a 9-2 run to take control. LaGrange got within two late but Pierce hit a pair of free throws to put the game out of reach.

Pierce, who finished with 38 points, moved from ninth to sixth on Averett's all-time scoring list. He leapfrogged Marcus Tucker, Damien Brown and Toney Seay — all on Sunday — to push his career total to 1,108 points.

Porter finished with a double-double, notching 16 points and 16 rebounds. His seven offensive rebounds gave him 256 for his career, making him the program's record-holder in that category after passing Damien Brown's previous record of 254. Freshman Bradley Robinson also had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cougars improved to 2-0 all-time against LaGrange, who they beat 85-72 in overtime on Jan. 6.

Averett travels to Methodist University on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. start.