Rochester, NY… Niall Carpenter (Westampton, NJ/Westampton) and Eric Murdock, Jr. (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater) combined for 13 points in overtime as the Lions defeated Bard College 84-82 in the consolation game of the Chuck Resler Tournament. The Lions improve to 1-1 on the year, while the Raptors fall to 0-2.
 
TCNJ held the lead for most of the first half, but was unable to pull away. The Lions attained their largest lead in the opening period of six thanks to a three-pointer off the hands of Liam Byrne (Middletown, NJ/Red Bank Catholic). Byrne knocked down a pair of triples off the bench in the game.
 
Ryan Jensen (Brielle, NJ/Manasquan) got hot late in the first half, scoring six of the team's final 11 points. Jensen was 3-for-3 from the field in the first half scoring eight points and helping TCNJ to a 34-30 halftime lead.
 
After Mike Walley (Yardley, PA/Notre Dame) knocked down a three early in the second half, the Raptors responded with a 6-0 run to capture their first lead since the 11 minute mark of the first half. Justyn Rogers scored four of his team high 22-during the run.
 
The Lions quickly recovered with an and-one from Randall Walko (Somerville, NJ/Somerville) and a three from Carpenter. Walko recorded his first career triple-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Raptors extended the lead to as high as nine points with 4:21 remaining. The Lions closed out regulation on an 11-2 run, with Carpenter scoring seven during that span. Murdock, Jr. tied the game on a pair of free throws with 55 seconds remaining and had a chance to win the game, but his last second lay-up couldn't fall. Murdock, Jr. also dished out five assists in the game to pass Sean Covington for most career assists in TCNJ history.
 
The Lions continued the run in overtime, going 4-for-4 from the field and 4-for-4 from the line to begin the extra frame.
 
The Raptors did not go away quietly cutting a nine point deficit to just two in the game's final 47 seconds and got the ball back with a chance to tie, but a pair of lay-ups did not go and the Lions held on for the win.
 
The difference in the game was at the free-throw line. The Lions sunk 24-of-36 free throws, while the Raptors made just 9-of-23.
 
TCNJ continues their road trip with an early conference match-up with Rutgers-Camden Tuesday night at 8:00 PM.