Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Freshman Bilal Abdullah scored 21 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and had nine assists to lead Lafayette to a 95-89 overtime win against Cal State Northridge on Monday night at Kirby Sports Center.

The Leopards (2-6) held a 16-point lead, their largest of the game, with 8:59 left. Lafayette was ahead 70-58 with 3:22 remaining before the Matadors (1-6) forced the extra session with a 17-5 spurt.

CSUN's Calvin Chitwood scored the first bucket of overtime to give the Matadors their first lead since 26-23 with 1:44 remaining in the first half. Senior Sean Knitter leveled the score at 77-77 on the Leopards' next possession. Abdullah pulled down a defensive board, was fouled, and made both foul shots to put Lafayette ahead for good.

Sophomore Marcus Harley's driving layup with 3:49 left gave the Leopards a four-point lead. It was Lafayette's last field goal before sophomore Jamaal Hilliard hit a three-pointer at 1:32 and converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 48 seconds left to put the Leopards ahead 92-83.

Lafayette, which was in the bonus for most of the second half and finished 29-of-39 from the foul line, was 11-for-13 from the line in overtime. Abdullah made all six of his free throws in the final five minutes.

Jamaal Douglas made momentum-changing plays on both ends of the floor in the Leopards' victory.

Davin White had a game-high 23 points for CSUN, and hit one of his five three-pointers three seconds later following one of Lafayette's 31 turnovers to make the score 70-63. A fast break layup by Joseph Frazier and two more fouls shots from Boylan quickly brought the Matadors within 70-67 with 2:41 left.

A dunk in transition by sophomore Jamaal Douglas and the ensuing free throw put Lafayette ahead 73-67 a few seconds later. After a Northridge basket and a Leopard turnover, Douglas blocked a layup to maintain the four-point advantage with 1:45 left.

CSUN forced another turnover, and White's layup made the score 73-71. The teams traded a pair of free throws, Harley missed a shot with 33 seconds left, and Northridge had possession of the ball facing a two-point deficit.

Boylan was fouled while shooting with 18 seconds left and sank both free throws, creating a 75-75 deadlock. Lafayette didn't get a good look at the basket and the squads went to overtime.

Abdullah was 12-for-13 from the foul line in the game and led six Leopards in double-figures. Hilliard scored 15 points (5-of-6 from the field, 2-of-2 from three and 3-of-3 from the foul line), and Knitter pitched in 14.

Douglas posted his second straight double-double, with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Harley had 12 points and seven rebounds and freshman Matt Betley contributed 10 points and six boards.

CSUN attempted 91 shots and was 37 percent from the field. Lafayette was 19-of-34 (56 percent) from the floor in the second half and overtime after shooting 38 percent in the first 20 minutes.

The Leopards will host Moravian on Tuesday, Dec. 22 in the final game before Christmas break.