Drew Bonner’s basket seals win for Morthland College

Staff Report

The Morthland College Patriots picked up a exciting 86-84 victory over Benedictine (Springfield, Ill.) in weekend action at Max Morris Gymnasium in West Frankfort.

Carterville’s Drew Bonner nailed a 3-pointer with :03 seconds on the game clock and the Patriots trailing 84-83 to give Morthland the two-point win.  Morthland improves to 6-3 overall with the win.

Benedictine’s Nick Bennett, who had connected on five straight 3-pointers, missed a forced shot at the buzzer to seal the Patriots win.

The game featured a game of runs, with Morthland in a early game 12-0 run, then Bendictine went on a 14-point run to go ahead 48-44 at the 16:00
mark on the clock in the second half.  Morthland zoomed ahead on a 10-2 run to go up 64-58 with 10 minutes to go only to see the Bulldogs chew
their way to a 81-75 lead with three minutes left to play. Morthland closed to a 81-79 deficit at the 1:45 mark , then both teams battled to
the final seconds setting the stage for Bonner’s game-winner.

Will Carmickle netted 28 points to lead the Patriots, battling larger opponents all night.  Yavario Smith 21 first-half points, then was
shutout in the second half.  Roby Boatright and Clay Payne chipped in 15 and 14 respectively for Morthland. The Bulldogs’ Justin Smith led the way for Benedictine with 17.  The Patriots are now 6-3 on the season, with the NAIA- Benedictine Bulldogs falling to 4-6.  The Patriots next travel Tuesday night, Dec. 17 to St. Louis Concordia, then return home for the Dec. 20-21 Ron Herrin Classic at Max Morris Gymnasium.