Box Score FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Newman men's basketball team fell in overtime, 95-91, at Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday (Feb. 20) at Stubblefield Center. The Jets dropped to 9-15 and 6-10 in the Heartland Conference. The Lions moved to 19-5 and 12-4 in the conference.
 
With the score tied at 82-82 going into overtime, Jeremy Espinoza put the Jets in front early in overtime with a 3-pointer at 4:09 for an 85-82 score.
 
Four straight UAFS points put the home team up 86-85 after a layup made at 2:42. Two Espinoza free throws at 2:27 pushed NU to an 87-86 lead.
 
The Lions tied the score at 87-87 with one free throw and then took an 89-87 advantage with a Seth Youngblood jumper. Ryan McCarthy tied the score with two free throws at 1:39 for an 89-89 score.
 
Youngblood hit his second straight basket at 1:12 for a 91-89 UAFS advantage. On the next Jet possession, NU turned the ball over with 33 seconds remaining. The Lions doubled their lead to four points with a Blake Branham layup with 13 seconds left. Landers Riddle pulled NU to within two at 93-91 with 8 seconds left with a layup.
 
The Jets were forced to foul, and Branham made two free throws to put the game away, 95-91.
 
A late Jet rally forced overtime. NU trailed, 80-74, with 2:12 remaining, but the Jets ended regulation on an 8-2 run, including two big 3-pointers. McCarthy started the run with two free throws. The deficit was cut to one, 80-79, with a Trae Beck 3-pointer with 55 seconds left.
 
After a basket from UAFS's Kenny Martin put them up 82-79 with 27 seconds remaining, Marquis Cuyler hit a triple with 16 seconds, forcing the game into overtime.
 
Cuyler scored a game-high 24 points and added nine rebounds nearly totaling a double-double. Riddle had 22 points, going 8-of-12 from the field. Five Jets hit double figures as Jeremy Espinoza added 11 points and McCarthy and Elhad Emerllahu both totaled 10 points.
 
The Jets shot 47.7 percent (31-65) from the field. UAFS was 50.7 (35-69) percent from the field, including 66.7 percent (4-6) in overtime.
 
Six Lions were in double figures led by Youngblood with 19 points of 9-of-12 shooting. Miha Glavas has a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds.
 
The Newman Jets play Dallas Baptist on Saturday (Feb. 22) on national television on CBS Sports Network. Tip-off is set for 11:05 a.m. from Fugate Gymnasium.