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A buzzer-beater by Chris Klimchock sent the game to overtime, and the Bearcats won a 61-57 decision in OT behind 18 points each from Kilmchock and Edmond Wright II.

Wright got the visiting Bearcats off to a fast start, scoring the game's first four points.  A steal by Chris Klimchock led to fast-break points by JC Howard to make it 6-0 just two minutes into play.

Dillon Stith scored on a layup with 15:11 remaining in the first half, making the score 12-6 Bearcats, but after a timeout, Thiel scored four quick points to cut the margin to just two.

A block by Grant Latus then sparked the Bearcats, leading to a 9-point run that included scores from four different players, making it 21-10 near the 9-minute mark.

However, the hosts then embarked on a 12-point run of their own, led by senior Ladell Trotty's six consecutive points, to take a 22-21 lead on a free throw at the 4:04 mark.

A free throw by Klimchock ended the run, then Wright fired a no-look pass underneath to Sean Kett, who scored to make it 24-22.

The team's played evenly throughout the remainder of the half, with a free throw by Wright tying the game with 0.7 seconds left, sending the teams into the locker room on even terms.

The second half didn't start well for the Bearcats, as Thiel scored eight consecutive points to make it 35-27.  By the 14:10 mark, the lead for the hosts was up to ten, 39-29. 

The deficit eventually reached 11 before the Bearcats started a comeback without Klimchock, who got into foul trouble.  Wright then got the hot hand, hitting a pair of three pointers to make it a 7-point game, 45-38.  After Armani Fountain scored to make it 45-40 off a nice pass from Pat Jones, Wright hit another three, this one from the baseline, to make it 45-43 at the 5:50 mark.

A bucket by Thiel's AJ Forbes at the 4:35 mark made it 49-45, and was the final field goal either team would have until the closing seconds.  A pair of free throws by Klimchock with 1:07 left brought it back to a one-point game, with Thiel in front 51-50.  With less then 10 seconds remaining, a shot by Wright rattled out of the rim, was grabbed by the Tomcats' Anthony Harvey, who hit a pair of free throws with 5 ticks left.

Klimchock then launched a 32-footer at the buzzer that found the net and sent the game to overtime.

The Bearcat point guard then scored the first bucket of overtime to make it 55-53, but a score by Chase McKinney gave the Tomcats a 56-55 lead with 1:30 to go in the extra frame.  Fountain hit a free throw to tie the game with 1:05 left, then Wright drove the lane and scored the go-ahead bucket with 42 seconds left. 

Thiel failed to convert on their next opportunity, and Stith grabbed the rebound with 24 seconds remaining.  After a timeout, Klimchock drew a foul and hit a pair of free throws with 18.9 seconds left to make it 60-56. 

Ladell Trotty then drew a foul with 10.5 seconds and made the first shot to cut the margin to three.  He then attempted to bounce the second shot off the rim and backboard, but Sean Kett grabbed the rebound and hit a free throw to seal the win.

For Wright, his 18-point effort was a new career high, and marked the second straight game he set a career best.  Klimchock had four assists to go along with his 18 points.  Fountain had 7 points, while Grant Latus had a team-best 7 rebounds.  Stith added six boards.

Forbes led Thiel with 12 points.

The Bearcats are now 4-0 in Presidents' Athletic Conference play, 9-4 overall.  Thiel drops to 3-2 in the PAC and is 6-5 overall after a 6-0 start.

SVC will return to action on Saturday, hosting Bethany College at 3PM in the Carey Center.