Basketball Falls on Buzzer Beater to #22 Martin Methodist

The Brenau basketball team lost a heartbreaker to #22 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College 52-51 on Saturday in Gainesville.

In the first half, the Golden Tigers came out of the gate with a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game. The Redhawks answered with a run of their own to make the score 16-16 at the 5:08 mark, then finished the half on a 12-3 run over the final 5:03 of the half to take a 28-19 lead into the break.

After intermission, the Golden Tigers found their stride as Kalin Williams (JR/Palmetto, Ga.) and Alyssa Nichelson (JR/Jasper, Ga.) led the charge. The duo combined for nine points over a seven minute span to cut the deficit to 33-31 at the 13 minute mark.

Martin Methodist led the entire half until the :17 second mark when Nekeia Brown (SO/Danielsville, Ga.) scored on a missed Nichelson jumper to give the Golden Tigers a 51-50 lead with 5 seconds left. Martin Methodist's Kelsey Nowlin hit a driving layup at the buzzer to let the visiting team escape with a win.

"We played so well in the second half and never quit," said head coach Kris Stewart. "This is our second last-second loss in a week, so it has really been tough. This team is resilient and I am very proud of our effort."

The Golden Tigers were led by Briah Woods (SO/Acworth, Ga.)' 11 points. Nichelson added 10, while Brown added eight points and six rebounds.

Nowlin led all scorers with 16 points.

Brenau (10-13 overall, 5-9 SSAC) next travels to Blue Mountain (Miss.) College on Thursday for a 5:30 central tipoff.