WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.– The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball needed two overtimes to get the win at home Tuesday night against Emmanuel.
 
With a minute remaining in the second overtime period, Emmanuel led 77-75. A steal from De'ondre Jackson led to a mid-range jumper from Darhius Nunn to tie the game at 77. It seemed as if the game was headed for a third overtime after each team missed their next two shots; however, a foul called on a rebound sent Malek Barber to the line with a chance to be the hero. The senior showed good composure at the line sinking both free throws to give PBA a 79-77 lead with less than a second remaining. Barber then forced the steal on the Lions' last possession to seal the win for PBA.
 
Jules Jasmin led the 'Fish with a 23-point double-double, going 10-for-13 from the field with 10 boards. Nunn and Dan Largey finished with 13 points each; Nunn also swiped six steals in the game. Jackson totaled 12 points, five rebounds and five assists; while Barber added 11 points and six rebounds.
 
The tightly contested game featured 18 lead changes. Both teams struggled from beyond the 3-point line. The Sailfish shot 19 percent from downtown, going 4-for-21. Emmanuel (2-5, 1-0 Conference Carolinas) had its troubles as well, shooting 8-for-34 from beyond the arc. Each team also left a large amount of points at the charity stripe. PBA (4-2, 0-1 Sunshine State Conference) shot 17-for-26 from the line while EC went 11-for-20.
 
Points were hard to come by for both teams in the first half. Each team struggled to take care of the ball eclipsing double-digit turnovers in the half. PBA held an early lead to start the game, but the Sailfish struggled to pull away. 
 
Emmanuel began to heat up midway through the first period. An 8-0 run gave the Lions a 22-17 lead with seven minutes remaining in the half. The Lions held the lead until a layup by Casey Carpinello gave PBA a 27-25 advantage. The Lions answered with a 3-pointer before the halftime buzzer to take a 28-27 lead into the break.
 
PBA came out strong to start the second half. The Sailfish defense forced EC into a scoring drought as the Lions' first bucket came six minutes into the half; meanwhile, the Sailfish pulled away to a 35-28 advantage. 
 
The Sailfish increased their lead throughout the half. Jackson made a layup as he was getting fouled to give PBA a 51-38 lead with eight and a half minutes remaining. EC did not go away quietly. Minutes later, a 9-0 run by the Lions made it a one possession game. The Sailfish tried to hold them off, but with a minute left an EC 3-pointer tied the game at 59. Each team traded a bucket before the end of regulation. PBA had a shot to win it at the buzzer, but the attempt by Jackson was short.
 
Jasmin started the first overtime with a bang as his dunk off a Barber assist scored the first bucket of the period. Neither team could pull away as the deficit never grew larger than one possession. 
 
With the Sailfish trailing by two, Barber hit a clutch 3-pointer with 26 seconds left to give PBA a 69-68 lead. On the following EC possession, Jackson forced a steal for PBA, but the Sailfish turned it back to the Lions and fouled to send them to the line. The second free throw tied the game at 69 and forced the second overtime.
 
PBA came through in the clutch as the Sailfish shot 3-for-5 from the field in the second overtime while going 4-for-5 from the free throw line. Nunn led the 'Fish with four points in the last overtime period.
 
The Sailfish will enjoy a short Thanksgiving break before resuming their season on Saturday against Albany St. The game at Rubin Arena will tip-off at 2 p.m.