Vikings fall in OT to high-scoring Grinnell

APPLETON, Wis. — The Grinnell College men’s basketball team hit four consecutive shots in overtime Saturday to take control and held on for a 133-125 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University at Alexander Gymnasium.

Julian Marx and Vinny Curta scored 30 points apiece for Grinnell (7-2, 4-0 MWC) as six Pioneers scored in double figures.

Mitch Willer went 15-for-17 from the floor on his way to 30 points for the Vikings (2-4, 2-2). Willer picked up a double-double as he grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds and added four blocks.

Pete Winslow was 9-for-9 from the floor as he compiled a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Vikings. Jeremy Stephani added 19 points,  six assists and five rebounds, and freshman guard Abhishek Venkatesh picked up 16 points, six assists and three steals. Lawrence’s other rookie guard, Quinn Fisher, had a game-high 10 assists to go with six points.

Lawrence shot 69.9 percent (51-73) from the floor but poor foul shooting and too many turnovers against Grinnell’s pressure defense was the difference. The Vikings went 19-for-38 from the stripe and committed 33 turnovers.

The game was tied at 114-114 early in the overtime when Marx hit a jumper and back-to-back 3-pointers followed by Curta’s three-point play to give Grinnell a 125-115 lead.

Lawrence countered with a three-point play from Winslow and a 3-pointer from Ben Peterson to trim the lead to 127-121. Venkatesh then stole the ball from Marx on the ensuing possession and converted a layup to trim the margin with 127-123 with 46 seconds left.

The Pioneers then sealed the victory at the foul line as Curta went 7-for-9 from the stripe in the final 44 seconds.

Both teams had a chance to win it in regulation after Winslow’s jumper tied it at 113-113 with 47 seconds left.

Grinnell’s Ky-Sean Johnson stepped on the sideline with 32 ticks remaining to give the ball to Lawrence, but the Vikings turned it right back over to the Pioneers with 24 seconds left.

Johnson missed a 3-pointer with three seconds left, and Jacob Eckstrand’s short jumper was off the mark at the buzzer.

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