CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) Tim Gainey hit a 3-pointer to force a first overtime and another to help Southern Utah get to the second OT period, where the Thunderbirds made 11 of 14 free throws Saturday night in a 98-91 win over Western Illinois.
Gainey scored 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead Southern Utah (10-9, 3-5 Mid-Continent Conference). DeAngelo Newsom had 17 points, while Steve Barnes and Rand Janes added 16 and 15 points, respectively.
David Jackson led Western Illinois (7-12, 3-5) with 21 points, and Fred Oguns scored 18. Eulis Baez had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Leathernecks; NaVonta Kentle added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Gainey's game-tying 3-pointer from the deep right wing with 9 seconds left in regulation brought the Thunderbirds (10-9, 3-5) back from a 16-point deficit with 5:18 remaining.
Western Illinois (7-12, 3-5) led by five points twice in the first overtime, but Gainey hit another trey from the top of the key to cut it to 81-79 with 15 seconds to play.
After the Leathernecks' Will Lewis missed two foul shots, Curtis Lincoln tied it again on a layup with 1.6 seconds remaining. He was fouled, but missed the free throw.
Southern Utah scored the first eight points of the second overtime and made 7 of 10 free throws in the final minute.
