Rattlers edge CU men in OT; women also fall

Cameron University’s basketball teams were hoping that a home-court advantage would help the Aggies get a couple of much-needed Lone Star Conference victories but the Rattlers were able to leave Lawton with a pair of wins as both CU teams were unable to covert down the stretch.

Kevin O’Connor’s Aggies had a golden opportunity to win their game in regulation but a pair of late turnovers in a 22-second span gave the visitors a chance to tie the game and force overtime.

And in the 5-minute OT turnovers were again a problem as three mistakes opened the door as the Rattlers pulled out an 91-79 victory.

The Aggie women also seemed in good position to get a win after building a 42-35 lead entering the fourth quarter. But that’s when the shots wouldn’t drop down the stretch as CU ended up losing 56-51.

The Cameron teams will be back in action Saturday, hosting St. Edward’s in a 1 p.m. Lone Star Conference doubleheader in the Aggie Gym.

The men’s game was tight down the stretch as the Aggies used a 3-point bucket from Aaron Jacob to make it 71-69 with 1:23 left in regulation.

However, a CU turnover with 37 seconds remaining gave Damani Claxton a chance to tie the game and he responded.

The Aggies were able to get a look from Reggie Prudhomme before the end of regulation but it missed the mark, forcing the overtime.

Cameron used a Jacob 3-pointer for its final lead at 74-73 but the Aggies missed their next four shots from the field and then committed three turnovers as the Rattlers took advantage to pull out the win.

Jacob led the CU men with 25 points, Prudhomme added 14 and Miles Gurske 17.

Women struggle in fourth

Jeff Mahoney’s women were still leading, 44-39, with 9:16 remaining but after that the visitors slowly were able to pull even when Imani Ivery drilled a trey for a 45-44 lead with 8:34 remaining.

The Aggies last tied the game at 46-all on a Grace Alverson layup.

The teams traded 3-point buckets, the CU bucket coming from Mercedes Mancha with 40 seconds remaining, that cut the deficit to a pair at 53-51.

CU had chance after that when St. Mary’s missed a shot but the Aggies missed and when Andrea Montesinos drilled a trey with six seconds remaining St. Mary’s owned a 56-51 lead and the Aggies were unable to counter, scoring just nine points in the final quarter.

Six Cameron players scored but only one, Aubrie Megehee, was able to break into double figures with 12. The Aggies continued to struggle from long range, hitting just 5-of-22 for 22.7 percent while the visitors sank 6-of-16 for 37.5 percent.