By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

MORROW, Ga.- Georgia College & State University Men's Basketball (3-1) take their third win of the season in exciting overtime fashion against Emmanuel College (1-2) in the Clayton State Classic, Saturday. 

The Bobcats picked up the win in the final second of the contest in nail-biter fashion. Going into the final minute of play GCSU trailed 71-68 to the Lions then Jamal Taylor (Sparta) forced the turnover for Austin Sloan (Warner Robins) to bank a game-tying three-point bucket. With 15 seconds left in the contest, Richard Crawford III (Evans) re-entered the contest and drew a foul with one second left on the clock. All knotted up at 71 Crawford toed the free throw line knocking down both attempts for the Bobcats to take the 73-71 victory. 

The hot offense for GCSU got the job done with three players scoring in the double digits. Christian Koneman (Chatsworth) had his best game of the season with a double-double knocking down 22 points and snagging 10 rebounds. Crawford was just three points behind Koneman with 19 points including the game-winning free throws. He also had an impressive three-point shooting performance going 5-for-6 from behind the arc. Sloan was the final shooter in the double digits banking 12 points. He also had success from behind the arc going 3-for-5 including the overtime-tying basket. 

The Bobcats put on a show on the defensive side of the ball as well as they had six more defensive rebounds than EC. In total GCSU outrebounded the Lions 38-28 in great part to Koneman who had 10 to lead the squad. He was the lone Bobcat with double-digit rebounds with Sloan knocking on the door with eight. Taylor played an incredible defensive game leading the team with five steals one of which led to the overtime three-point bucket which tied the game. He also led the squad with two blocked shots. Taylor was also the fourth-leading scorer with eight points.

The Bobcats continue in the Clayton State Classic tomorrow, Nov. 20 at 1:00 p.m. against Newberry College. Live stats and broadcast links are available at GCBobcats.com.