Paine pulls out overtime win

Paine coach Ron Spry wants Daniel Lomax to become more assertive on offense. At times, that can be a difficult task.

"I'm always trying to get Daniel to utilize his athletic ability," Spry said. "Sometimes, he won't do that."

Lomax became an offensive force Saturday night. He scored all of his team-high 15 points after halftime to lead Paine to a 59-56 overtime win over Morehouse on Saturday's homecoming at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Lomax scored his first points of the game on a 3-pointer with 10:05 remaining. He later scored seven of Paine's nine points in overtime.

"I had to get advice from my teammates on how to get open and get the ball," Lomax said. "Morehouse was playing good defense."

Paine avenged an earlier overtime loss at Morehouse as it played good team defense, holding the Maroon Tigers to one field goal in the extra period. The Lions (12-9, 10-6), winners of six of their past seven, leaped over Morehouse (12-10, 9-6) into third place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Paine's Lamario Latson extended his string of double-digit rebound games to four. Latson pulled down 13 boards with 10 points, while Chris Jackson added 12 points.

Paine trailed the entire game until Latson's putback of Nate Lewis' blocked layup put the Lions up 50-49 with 2:05 remaining. Douglas Whittler, who scored a game-high 20 for Morehouse, responded with one of two free throws to tie the game 30 seconds later.

Morehouse tried to run a play with 8.2 seconds left to win the game in regulation, but William Belton lost the handle driving to the basket. Lewis scurried downcourt, but missed a running 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

In overtime, Paine fell behind by three until Lomax took over. He popped two foul shots. Then his steal and fast-break layup gave the Lions a one-point lead. Later, off a Danta Quinn block, Lomax took the ball and sprinted downcourt for another layup and a 57-55 lead.

Justin Durham added two free throws to push the lead to four with 35.5 seconds left.

"This gives us big confidence," Lomax said. "We're starting to play more as a team. There are no individuals. Once everyone learned his role, we started to jell as a team."

Paine got behind early and trailed by six late in the first half. But with the clock winding down, Cervantes Boddy threw in a half-court shot to awaken the sellout crowd. Morehouse led 28-25 at the break.