Oswego State moves onto the Sweet 16 following a 75-71 win in overtime against Baldwin Wallace University Saturday night at the Max Ziel Gymnasium.

Both teams took the rough road to get into the Round of 32 after close wins in the Round of 64.

For the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets, they grabbed a win yesterday over the Salisbury Seagulls 75-61. Baldwin Wallace was looking to continue its great shooting yesterday as they went 26-53 from the field and 12-31 from beyond the arc. The Yellow Jackets were effective in other ways as well out rebounding the Seagulls 37-27 and they were able to score 15 points off of turnovers compared to Salisbury’s five.

Oswego State was going into this one looking to stop point guard Jay Battle who dropped 18 points shooting 5-8 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc.

As for the Lakers, they won their game yesterday against Salem State 72-59 thanks to a double-double from Tyler Pierre and great shooting from Quinn Carey. The Lakers shot a solid 44.2 percent from the field but struggled from three, only shooting 29.4 percent. If the Lakers wanted to move on they were going to half shoot better from the outside because the Yellow Jackets shoot 36.6 percent from beyond the arc.

After going down 6-1 early on in the game, the Lakers went on a 12-3 run and started to turn things around. The score evened out with some great shooting from Baldwin Wallace and at the end of the first half, the Lakers lead 37-34.

Early on points, in the paint and free throws were the difference in the game as the Lakers outscored the Yellow Jackets 20-12 in the first half and shot double the amount of free throws by shooting 12 to the Yellow Jackets’ six. It was still anybody’s game in the first half, however, because the Yellow Jackets shot 41.7 percent from beyond the arc compared to the Lakers’ 16.7 percent.

In the second half the game got intense. It seemed to be going back and forth for a while with with the Lakers halfway through the second half leading 55-50. In the last 10 minutes of the game, the Yellow Jackets outscored the Lakers 16-11 and in the last minute of the half they went on a 5-0 run to put the game into overtime.

“I was proud of the way we ended that half,” said head coach Tom Heil of Baldwin Wallace. “It was emotional game to coach. I’m worn out. I’m ready for a nap.”

Baldwin Wallace did have the ball with 32.5 seconds left, but the Lakers played great defense and forced a shot clock violation. The Lakers then had the ball with 2.5 seconds left and decided to give the shot to Liam Sanborn who 8-18 on the night with 20 points. He barely missed and the two teams settled in to play five more minutes of basketball.

Nobody scored the first two minutes of over time until Brandon Gartland, who 7-11 and 20 points, broke through, and gave the Lakers a two-point lead.

“All my teammates pass me the ball and tell me to shoot the ball when I’m open and it gives me a lot of confidence,” Gartland said. “Today they went in. It’s opportunistic basketball. If I see one go in and then the next couple I feel really good.”

Baldwin Wallace would not go down without a fight. Junior guard Michael Quiring made deep three pointer and was fouled in the act of shooting. Thankfully for the Lakers, he missed the free throw.

Later when the score became 70-70, Sanborn made a clutch shot and took another 2 point lead. When the ball reached the other end of the floor Kyle Nadar, who led the Yellow Jackets in scoring with 18 points, was fouled. He missed one and the Lakers had a one point lead.

Joe Sullivan scored to make the game 74-71 and it was all over but the shouting. Jay Battle missed a deep three with four seconds left. Some more free throws from Sanborn, and the Lakers danced on to The Sweet 16.

“This was one of our best offensive games of the year,” said head coach Jason Leone. “Our execution, our ball movement and, obviously, we made some more individual plays tonight than we did last night. To beat [Baldwin Wallace] is quite an accomplishment.”

For senior Tyler Pierre, he said he just wants to win and keep going deeper in the NCAA tournament.

I don’t want to stop winning,” Pierre said. “I love basketball. Wherever it takes me, I’m going to keep going.”

Pierre had 14 points and 16 rebounds and six offensive rebounds. He has had a double-double in first two rounds of this tournament.

The Lakers live to dance another day and advance to The Sweet 16 and they face Marietta College next.

Photo provided by Bill Cronin via WTOP-10 TV