RALEIGH, N.C. — Sophomore Moriba Diaby made three of four free throws in the waning seconds of the second overtime period as Averett University's men's basketball held off William Peace University for a thrilling 103-101 double-overtime victory to conclude its regular season on Thursday night.
 
Averett (14-11, 8-8 USA South) took a 100-99 lead on junior Jalen Burnett's 3-pointer with 46 seconds remaining in the second overtime. William Peace (6-18, 4-11) tried to tie the game on its next possession, but Tre McLean couldn't get his layup to fall. Diaby was there to collect the board and drove the ball 94-feet down the court for a layup, but he was fouled on the attempt. The 6-foot-6 center stepped up to the line and sank both of his free throws, helping the Cougars extend their lead to a possession.
 
McLean missed again on the Pacers' ensuing possession and once again, Diaby was there for the big defensive board. Diaby was again fouled and went to the line for two shots and knocked down the back end of the two attempts, which gave the Cougars a two-possession lead, 103-99, with seven seconds remaining.
 
Knowing its USA South Conference Tournament berth was on the line, William Peace (6-18, 4-11) quickly got the ball down the court. Mikal Gaylord's 3-point attempt was errant, but Smith Gupton grabbed the offensive board and was fouled in the process with 0.6 seconds to play. He knocked down both of his attempts from the line, getting the Pacers within two, 103-101, but it was already too late as Averett got the ball back and let the clock run out for a big road victory in the regular season finale. Averett had already locked in the third seed in the East Division with its 80-76 win over the Pacers on Tuesday night in Danville.

Thursday's game, the second between the two rivals over a three-day span, was already dramatic enough well before the finish. Burnett's layup in the paint with 49 seconds left in the first overtime period extended Averett's lead to 91-86. As he'd done all night, though, the Pacers' Joshua Jones gave his team a shot in the arm when he took a feed from Gaylord and knocked down a huge trey that made it a 91-89 contest with 45 seconds in regulation.
 
Averett couldn't get its jumper to fall on its next possession and William Peace capitalized, grabbing the big defensive board. The Pacers had a hard time, though, as Tyson Sellers couldn't push his layup through the net. However, McLean was there as soared above the Cougars' defense for a tip-in that tied the game at 91-91 with three seconds remaining. The Cougars had trouble converting on the other end on their next possession and it sent the contest to a second-overtime and thrilling finish.
 
The first overtime was set up by exciting action at the end of regulation. The Pacers strung together a 22-15 run over the final 10 minutes to help erase a seven-point deficit. William Peace took a brief lead near the end of regulation on a pair of free throws from Trey Bryant with 1:36 left. Diaby once again played Averett's hero as he knocked down the back end of two free throw attempts to knot the game at 78-78. Gaylord's 3-pointer nearly a minute later gave the Pacers a shot at the victory, but his long-range attempt missed, sending the game to overtime.
 
Senior James Contreras Jr. scored a team-high 26 points for the Cougars while Burnett had 19 points and junior Austin DeLucia put up 14 — with 12 coming on 3-pointers. Diaby finished off a solid night with a career-high 14 points to go with eight boards. Sophomore Vince Contreras recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. 
 
William Peace had three players finish in double digits. Sellers led the way with 24, including six 3s, while Bryant turned in a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds and Jones chipped in with 11.
 
Averett will play at No. 2 seed Methodist University in Tuesday's quarterfinal match at 7 p.m. in Fayetteville, N.C.