BLUEFIELD, Va. - It took five extra minutes to decide the winner of  Wednesday's Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) men's basketball contest between Bluefield and CIU as the home team bested the visitors from Columbia 94-93. The Rams were without leading scorer DiAnthony Heathcock for the second straight game as Bluefield beat CIU (12-8, 11-5 AAC) for just the third time in the 12-game history of the matchup. 

CIU began the contest by surging forward 8-2 (17:12) on a triple from Darrian Oates. However, by the ten-minute mark in the first half, the Rams found themselves down by 27-18. CIU would finish the half with an offensive outburst thanks to solid guard play, leading at the break 42-41. 

The squads exchanged leads throughout the second half, with late-game heroics taking place from both teams in the final minutes of the ball game. Will Kelly hit a dagger three to put CIU up 83-79 (0:47), but Bluefield responded. The home team cut the lead to just one and then was fouled by the Rams with just 0.2 seconds remaining. Bluefield's Martin Donavan made the front end of the pair of free throws to send the game into overtime. 

After a hard-fought extra period and six seconds left CIU trailing 94-93, Jalen Brinson's floater hit back iron, and Bluefield secured the ball. A missed free throw from Bluefield gave CIU one last gasp, but the Rams were unable to capitalize on the final possession.

Oates was stellar yet again with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, knocking down three 3-pointers. Kelly has stepped up in Heathcock's absence, filling the scoring gap with 15 points, going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Christian Howard scored 15 (7-of-8 FG), while Brinson was the fourth player in double-figures with 12. Howard pulled down six rebounds as fellow forward Brandon Hunt tallied eight points and seven rebounds.

Up Next: The Rams return home to welcome Kentucky Christian to the Moore Fitness Center on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 4:30 p.m. EST.