BEL AIR, Md. - Sophomore guard
Alie Kondeh connected from behind the basket as time expired to give the Harford men's basketball team (7-10, 2-3 MD JUCO) a 76-74 victory over CCBC Catonsville (8-8, 2-3 MD JUCO) on Wednesday afternoon. The win was the second-straight come-from-behind conference victory for the Fighting Owls.
With the score tied at 74-74.
Brandon Spain brought the ball up the floor and took a 20-foot jumper with four seconds remaining. In a scramble for the rebound, Kondeh came up with it under the basket and flipped a shot toward the cylinder that rattled in as time expired for the win.
The Fighting Owls held a four-point lead with 53 seconds remaining and were headed to the line for two when
Exzavier Cooper was whistled for a pair of quick technical fouls, sending the Cardinals to the line for four freebies. Marcus Knight made just one of four, however, and Harford's
Malachi Seney connected on both of his to extend the Fighting Owl lead to 70-65.
The teams traded free throws to advance the score to 72-67 and Tikeace Harris inched the visitors closer with a driving layup with 38 seconds left. Spain was again clutch at the charity stripe with 34 ticks left to put Harford back up, 74-69, but Catonsville had one last rush left.
The Cardinals hit a triple with 27 seconds left and then received the ball after a Harford turnover with with 22 seconds on the clock with a chance to tie or take the lead. Knight was fouled, and this time he connected on both to tie the game at 74-74 with 14 seconds left, setting up the final play.
CCBC Catonsville led throughout the first half and led 50-41 with 14:50 left in the game, but Harford mounted a rally with a 17-6 stretch. Seney gave the Fighting Owls their first lead since 2-0 with a pair of free throws with 9:11 left, 58-56.
Five Fighting Owls totaled double figures in the win, led by
Jon Warren's all-around effort. Warren tallied 17 points, seven steals and six rebounds while Seney added 14 while connecting on a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. Cooper chipped in with a dozen, while Kondeh had 11 and Spain netted 10.
Harris led all scorers with 27 points and Knight went for 21 in a losing effort.,The Fighting Owls travel to Southern Maryland on Friday for a 7 p.m. tip.