BEL AIR, Md. - For the third time in five home contests, the Harford men's basketball team had a chance to force overtime in their final possession but came up short. The Fighting Owls lost 77-74 to Southern Maryland on Friday when a last-second triple by Chidozie Omile fell short.

The Fighting Owls committed 27 turnovers and both teams committed 29 fouls in a sloppy basketball game. But Harford fought to the final whistle, twice erasing a 10-point defecit to force a final shot.

Trailing by three without the ball, Harford forced a tie-up on the insuing inbounds play to set up the final chance. Omile's shot fell just short.

Omile finished with 23 points and eight rebounds while Shendell Chase added 16 and eight. Robert Konteh chipped in with eight markers and 10 caroms.