Harman's heroics seal win
Robbie Harman spent the men's basketball team's previous two games sitting on the bench as the seconds ticked down on back to back losses.
But Saturday, the junior guard was the team's hero - not once, but twice.
Harman, who fouled out in back-to-back games prior to Saturday's game, sparked the team's 70-68 overtime win with two closing-second 3-pointers. Harman's first came with eight seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. He then sunk another one with just two seconds remaining in overtime.
"The first one, I was satisfied with that one," Harman said. "I thought (sophomore guard Jeremy Allen) would take us to victory in the end but it just happened to come to me and (the shot) didn't feel great, but the outcome was alright."
CMU coach Ernie Zeigler liked how Harman's second three was set up after the ball was cycled around before finally passed outside by sophomore guard Antonio Weary.
"We really did a good job after we ran our initial set of drawing and penetrating and kicking for each other," Zeigler said. "And Robbie's three at the end was a great example of that."
Despite the presence that Harman made at the end of the game, he was almost unnoticeable up until that point. Harman just shot 25 percent for the game, scored just three in the first half and was held scoreless in the second half until his 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining in regulation.
Wright State coach Brad Brownell said Harman's three at the end of regulation gave him confidence going into overtime.
"The unfortunate thing was by making the shot before, he felt pretty good about himself and that 3-point shot was just poor execution by Cory Cooperwood and Vaughn (Duggins) on kind of a brushed ball screen," Brownell said. "I don't know what those two guys we're thinking - they just let him jump up and shoot it in."
Zeigler was happy with how Harman and sophomore guard Jeremy Allen took control of the team in overtime when the team feel behind by five early with senior forward Chris Kellermann on the bench with foul trouble.
"Those are our veteran guys," Zeigler said. "Now when you have somewhat of a calming presence out there is allows your newcomers and other guys (to say), 'Hey these guys aren't panicking and we're done five, let's keep battling.'"
Harman finished with nine points, two assists and two rebounds.
sports@cm-life.com
