Owens tips in shot at buzzer to defeat Navarro, 66-64

KILGORE, TX -- With a split-second left in a tied game, Kilgore College's Jordyn Owens tipped in a rebound as time expired to defeat the Navarro College Bulldogs, 66-64, at Masters Gymnasium.

With the score tied at 64, KC inbounded the ball with 3.1 seconds left but a Ranger shot down low bounced off the rim.

Owens, in perfect position, leapt and tipped the rebound just enough to make the game-winning shot as the buzzer sounded as KC fans stormed the court.

It was a nice comeback victory for KC (15-7, 5-4) who trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half.

Navarro came into the game with a No. 19 national ranking, sittting in first place in Region XIV an 18-1 overall record and 8-1 record in conference play.

After a halftime break with the score tied at 24 points, Navarro opened up the second half on fire.

The Bulldogs (18-3, 8-2) led KC 47-38 with 11 minutes left.

KC's Darrian Grays cut the Navarro lead to 47-44 with 9:30 left in the game thanks to two-straight three-pointers.

Navarro responded with the next five points to extend the Bulldog lead to 52-44 with seven minutes left in regulation.

Owens scored on a layup, was fouled and made a free throw to cut NC's lead to 52-47.

After a Bulldog turnover, Grays nailed another three-pointer to get within two points of Navarro, 52-50, with 5:25 left.

KC's Demiere Brown scored next to tie the game at 52 points.

Navarro's Shakeem Johnson scored next to put NC ahead, but KC's Jairus Stevens was fouled on the ensuing possession and made both free throws to tie the score again.

Nicholas Rene Huteau nailed a three-pointer with 4:30 left to put Navarro ahead once again, 57-54.

After KC's Assane Ndiaye made one-of-two free throws, Rodgigue Tha Andela came up with a huge steal for the Rangers, but KC missed a close jumper at the other end.

Navarro's Trey Pulliam was fouled and made both free throws to extend the Bulldog lead to 59-55 with 2:54 left in the game.

KC responded with a clutch layup by Andela who was fouled and completed the three-point play to make the score 59-58.

With 2:18 remaining, Navarro's Sherman Robinson made a layup to give the Bulldogs a 61-58 lead.

KC missed a three-point attempt with about two minutes left in the game, but the ball was grabbed by Andela for arguably the biggest rebound of the night.

Andela rebounded the ball, scored and was fouled.  He made the free throw to get within one point of Navarro, 61-60, with 1:45 left in the game.

On Navarro's ensuing possession, Andela blocked a Bulldog shot by Gavin Kensmil, rebounded by Owens.

With one minute remaining, Owens made a contested step-back midrange shot to give KC a one-point lead, 62-61.

Andela then came up big defensively again with another blocked shot and a key Ranger rebound by Brown.

Brown made the next basket on a short-range jump shot with 40 seconds left to put KC ahead, 64-61.

Navarro marched down the court and KC was called for a foul on a three-point attempt by Ja'Quaye James with 28.2 seconds left.  

James made all three free throws to tie the score at 64 points.

KC got the ball and called a timeout with 15.8 seconds left.

KC attempted a shot with six seconds left, but the ball went out-of-bounds, last touched by Navarro.

With three seconds left, Andela narrowly missed a last-second shot, but the ball bounced off the rim and was tipped in for the game-winner by Owens.

KC was led in scoring by Stevens with 18 points (2-of-3 three-pointers) and Grays with 16 points (4-of-10 three pointers).

Owens ended up with 15 points (6-of-9 overall and 2-of-4 three-pointers) and Andela scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Brown only scored four points for KC, but was huge off of the glass, grabbing nine rebounds.

Navarro had two players in double figures.  Pulliam scored 10 points and Kensmil scored 12 points for the Bulldogs.

KC will travel Saturday, Feb. 2, to play Paris Junior College.

Tipoff from Hunt Gymnasium is set for 2 p.m.