COLUMBIA - Graduate guard Darrian Oate's runner as time expired downed Montreat College (N.C.) as CIU men's basketball defeated the Cavaliers 77-75 Wednesday night. Head Coach Tony Stockman put his faith in the five-year veteran, drawing up a play for the Rams' second all-time leading scorer in the game's waning seconds. The win is crucial to holding the Ram's (14-8, 13-5 AAC) third-place spot in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings. The victory also avenges a 76-66 loss at the hands of the Cavaliers earlier this month.

Wednesday's contest saw the Cavaliers lead the Rams for much of the first half, with Montreat starting the game on a 10-2 run. CIU cut the advantage to four (26-22 )on a Johnny Whysong layup (4:53) and then, after a response from the Cavaliers, trimmed the lead to four again (28-24) on a pair of Jaylon Jeter free throws (4:23). However the momentum truly began to shift DiAnthony Heathcock finished off a Jalen Brinson miss with a thunderous two-hand tip slam as the clock ran out in the first half. 

The Rams took the lead for the first time in the game on a Brinson finish to go up 37-36 a minute and nine seconds into the second half. The Rams led by as much as ten (63-53) with 6:06 remaining in the ball game, but the Cavaliers would hang around till the game's final moments. 

Montreat's Jack Keller stroked a three with ten ticks left on the clock to tie the game at 75-75. Following a timeout, the Rams would run a set-piece as Oates came off a handoff from Brinson to finish off the Cavilers with the bank shot as time ran out. 

Oates and Heathcock each scored 16 points in the evening, and Heathcock notched the double-double with ten rebounds. Brinson and Christian Howard scored ten points, with Howard grabbing six boards and tallying four rebounds and five assists. 

Will Kelly knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers in late in the second half with 16 quality minutes off the bench, while James Davis attacked the rim hard in the first half, helping him record seven points. 

Hear from Darrian Oates postgame: 


Up next: The Rams face a showdown with perennial AAC power Union College (Tenn.) at 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday,  Feb. 3.