Royals Outlast Montreat in Triple-Overtime Thriller

Montreat, NC- In one of the wildest games of the season, the men's basketball team outlasted Montreat College 123-117 in a triple-overtime battle on the road Wednesday night. The win marks a crucial AAC victory over a top-75 RPI opponent, boosting the Royals' postseason hopes.

It was a back-and-forth contest from the opening tip, with Johnson leading 43-42 at halftime. The teams continued to trade blows, finishing regulation knotted at 80-80. Even after two extra periods, neither side could pull away, entering the third overtime tied at 106. But down the stretch, the Royals made just enough plays on both ends of the floor to escape with the hard-fought victory.

"Proud of the guys. Three-overtime win on the road against a top-75 RPI team. That obviously helps," Head Coach Logan Sharp said. "It's a Quad 2 win, which helps our chances at a national tournament as an at-large. Give Montreat credit—our defense wasn't great tonight, and their point guard (RJ Manginello) gave us 45 points, which is on us. But we found a way to win, and that's what matters this time of year."

Toris Woods led the Royals with a monster 31-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Mason Lockhart added 27 points and nine rebounds. Isaiah Poore chipped in 19 points, and Tyler Moore provided key minutes with 13 points and nine free throws. The Royals shot 88% from the line (44-50), a crucial factor in grinding out the win.

Johnson (17-8, 13-8 AAC) dominated inside, outscoring Montreat 54-40 in the paint and securing 28 second-chance points. The Royals will look to carry this momentum into the final stretch of AAC play as they push for a conference tournament run.