Article Text

Nick Karageorgos drove to the basket and scored with three seconds remaining, giving McLean a dramatic 45-44 road victory over Marshall on Jan. 9.

The win ended a two-game skid for the Highlanders, who entered the matchup after suffering a triple-overtime loss.

Both teams struggled offensively during a defensive opening quarter. Karageorgos, a senior guard, hit an early 3-pointer to help McLean take a 5-2 lead, but Marshall finished the period ahead 9-7.

McLean seized control early in the second quarter with a 10-0 run capped by senior guard Jake Bell’s 3-pointer. The Statesmen answered with seven straight points, cutting the Highlanders’ advantage to 17-16 and prompting a timeout.

Bell gave McLean momentum entering halftime by sinking a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for a 21-17 lead.

The Highlanders carried that energy into the third quarter. Bell converted a Marshall turnover into a three-point play, making it 29-23. He later connected from beyond the arc again, stretching McLean’s lead to 34-26 at the end of the period.

Marshall quickly erased the deficit in the fourth quarter. A 7-0 Statesmen run forced McLean to call timeout, but Marshall added four more points and moved ahead 37-34 with fewer than three minutes remaining.

The Statesmen hit a 3-pointer after McLean’s second timeout of the quarter, but senior center Roman Ludwikowski responded. He made a 3-pointer and then scored a layup while drawing a foul, tying the game at 40.

The teams traded baskets during the final minute before Marshall took a 44-43 lead with only seconds left.

McLean used its final timeout to prepare one last possession. When Marshall countered the Highlanders’ original play, Karageorgos took the inbound pass, dribbled around a screen and finished at the rim to put McLean ahead for good.

Senior guard Logan Baldrate said Karageorgos stepped up after the planned play was disrupted, sparking an excited celebration from his teammates.

The victory moved McLean to 5-9 as the Highlanders sought to remain unbeaten in district play. Senior JW Riggins said maintaining the same focus and mentality through both wins and losses would be crucial to the team’s progress.