HONOLULU, Hawaii --- Biola and Chaminade played an immediate classic inside of McCabe Gym on Saturday night. The Eagles and Silverswords traded buckets for 60 full minutes of play before Biola locked down a 113-107 win at the end of the fourth overtime.
It was the Eagles' second-longest game in program history and the first four-overtime affair since the Eagles played Georgetown (Ky.) in the NAIA semifinals in March 2000. Biola's longest game ever was a five-overtime game against California Baptist back in 1984. Although that game had a bit of different flavor with a final score of just 79-77.
Tonight's effort is Biola's first win in a game that lasted four overtimes or longer. There's a lot of moments to point to, but mostly the Eagles have Chris Rossow's clutch second-overtime buzzer-beater to thank for this win.
"It felt really great to help my team pull a tough one on the road," said Rossow. "I'm glad that All the hard work I put in over the years is paying off and it's showing. Today's win was a whole team effort all the way to the players that didn't play."
Chaminade was the more consistent team at the end of regulation and through most of the first two overtime periods. The 'Swords got out to a 7-1 start to the second OT to take a 92-86 lead and force Biola to play a really good three minutes of basketball.
Rossow and Michael Bagatourian scored five points in a row for Biola to cut the Chaminade lead to one with 2:17 left in ot2. The Silverswords and Eagles both went cold over the next two minutes with Tyler Cartaino making a free throw with 2.2 seconds left to give the 'Swords a 95-93 lead.
Biola had to inbound the ball from the far baseline, meaning they needed to run a perfect play to cash in and tie or win the game at the buzzer. Alex Wright showed off his arm with a one-handed heave to a streaking Rossow. Rossow caught the ball just inside of half-court, dribbled two full steps to inside the three-point arc and banked the ball in to keep the game going.
Things went into its third overtime tied 95-95 and with three players fouled out of the game, leaving both teams a little shorthanded. Overtime two was the highest-scoring five-minute period of the whole game, with both teams putting 10 points on the board.
Chaminade scored first in the third overtime, with their season leading scorer Tyler Cartaino opening up from three-point land. The Silverswords took first blood in ot1, ot2 and ot3.
That three-point buffer was the largest they would have in the whole period. Chaminade shot just 2-of-7 in the period, with the biggest miss coming courtesy Cartaino right at the buzzer. Biola tied the game at 101 with a Marquise Mosley jumper with just over 30 seconds left.
After that, Cartaino took up the whole shot clock and missed a really good chance at a game-winning layup. By the skin of its teeth Biola escaped into the fourth and final overtime period.
Marquise Mosley scored the first four points in the fourth overtime and Biola never looked back from there. Chaminade got within one with 1:23 to play, but Alex Wright made a mid-range shot and then Rossow iced it with a three to put the game away.
The Eagles hit three of their five field goals in the fourth overtime period, and the team went five of six from the stripe to outscore Chaminade 12-6 in the final period. The 12 points were the most scored by either team in any overtime period on Saturday.
The two teams combined for 170 field goal attempts in the game. Biola made 41 of its 79 chances (51.9 percent). Chaminade had a tougher go, scoring on just 39 of 91 attempts (42.9 percent).
The Silverswords were afforded so many more opportunities because of their dominance on the glass for most of the night. The hosts out-rebounded Biola 52-42 and utilized 20 offensive rebounds to pull the game even despite trailing for just about all of regulation.
From minutes 30-60 this game had all the drama and intensity of a PacWest Tournament semifinal or championship. And, with both teams already with four or more conference wins, it very well could be a preview of this year's tournament.
Bagatourian ended as the game's leading scorer, setting a new season-high with 27 points. He also set a season-high with 15 rebounds to log his second double-double of the year.
"Michael always makes the game easier for me," said Rossow. "I know where he wants it and where he likes to get to. He is a big-time player and it showed not only tonight but every night we play."
Mosley, who once again stepped up late in regulation and in overtime, finished second with 26 points. He facilitated the offense all night long for BU, ending with eight assists. Mosley and Bagatourian both shot right at 50 percent with 10 made field goals and five made free throws.
Rossow shot 8-for-12 from the floor to tally 21 points in 45 minutes. The Eagles had five double-digit scorers for the first time this season as Solomon Ruddell (16) and Whitten Dominguez (10) joined the three guys who had 20+.
"That is the longest game I've played in my entire basketball career," said Rossow. "The challenges of the game was coming back and playing like we didn't lose the other night. We had great energy from everyone on the team and we were playing for each other."
Ruddell played a critical role in the victory as he returned after missing Thursday's game with injury. The big man played a season-high 46 minutes and had 16 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Ruddell went 8-for-11 from the free-throw line, which is obviously crucial in a four-overtime game.
The win pushes Biola to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in PacWest Conference play. Chaminade drops to 6-5 overall and 4-2 in conference competition. The Eagles will need to jump right in the ice baths as they've got to recover to do this all over again on Monday afternoon. Biola concludes its three-game Hawaiian road trip at Hawaii Hilo Monday at 9:30 p.m. PT.
