NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Life 95, William Carey 102, (2/OT)
Records: Life 16-5 (8-3 SSAC), William Carey 16-6 (9-4 SSAC)

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Life University men's basketball team found itself in an all-out battle Thursday night but fell just short in a double-overtime thriller against William Carey, 102-95. The Running Eagles controlled much of the game, leading for significant stretches before the Crusaders clawed back to force extra periods and ultimately secured the hard-fought win.

The first half began with Life U taking early command, as Elias Ramirez connected from deep to put the Running Eagles on the board. Cortez Johnson and Tyreke Johnson dominated the paint, helping the Running Eagles build a lead. However, William Carey responded with a late surge, knocking down key shots and cutting into the deficit. Despite a strong defensive effort from the Running Eagles, the Crusaders managed to close the gap, leaving Life with a 40-34 advantage at halftime.

After the break, the Running Eagles continued to hold their ground, led by a standout performance from Chaze Harris, who stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. Harris' ability to distribute the ball kept Life's offense flowing, while Dara Olonade added key buckets in the post. The Running Eagles led by as many as six midway through the second half, but William Carey refused to back down. Dylan Brumfield took over for the Crusaders, pouring in a game-high 34 points, including several clutch free throws to even the score at 82-82 and send the game to overtime.

The first overtime period was another seesaw affair, as both teams exchanged buckets. Tyreke Johnson drilled a crucial three-pointer to momentarily put Life ahead, but William Carey's persistence kept the game tied heading into the second extra period. In the final period, the Running Eagles finally succumbed to the Crusaders as the hosts put together a final 11-4 run to seal the victory.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Life had several standout performances. Cortez Johnson notched a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Dara Olonade contributed 10 points before fouling out. Tyreke Johnson added 18 points and played a pivotal role in keeping the Running Eagles within striking distance.

Overall, the thrilling back-and-forth battle saw 25 ties and 25 lead changes. The Running Eagles connected on 11 of 27 three-pointers (40.7%), while William Carey struggled from deep, making just 8 of 29 (27.6%). Individually, Chaze Harris led Life with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Cortez Johnson added 18 points and 13 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Running Eagles couldn't contain Dylan Brumfield, who scored 34 points for the Crusaders. William Carey also controlled the boards, finishing with a 49-45 rebounding advantage and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities with 10 points off offensive rebounds. 

The Running Eagles will now look to quickly turn around for another tough SSAC matchup, facing Loyola on Saturday in New Orleans.