Barons Take Down Royals in OT Thriller

In an exhilarating college basketball showdown, the Brewton-Parker Christian University Barons secured a hard-fought 78-75 overtime victory against the Warner University Royals at Gillis Gymnasium on October 31, 2025. The first half began with the Royals taking an early lead with a 3-pointer from Akeem Dauphin. The Barons took the lead back three minutes into the game and carried it for the rest of the half. As the game progressed, Tommy J Tisdale III widened Brewton-Parker's lead with a crucial late-quarter 3-pointer. Brewton-Parker capitalized on a series of fast breaks and layups, bolstered by a notable dunk from Armani Reese, assisted by Abraham Garjah, extending their lead to as much as 14 points. The Barons took a commanding lead into the break, 30-16. In the second half, the Royals forced a comeback and managed to take the lead late, causing a thrilling race to the buzzer. The Royals made a strong comeback with key 3-pointers by Josh Irwin and Bryson Castillo to take the lead with 3:21 remaining. The Barons took the lead with 2:20 left before falling behind four with a minute and a half remaining. The Barons stole the ball twice with under a minute remaining to tie the game, then take the lead with 30 seconds left in the game. The Royals managed to hit a layup with 17 seconds left to force overtime. With the teams tied, the game went into overtime, where Jakobe Jones hit critical 3-pointers. Both teams exchanged leads several times, with Gil Gonzalez making a pivotal steal leading to a fast break and a dunk to briefly tie the game. Jakobe Jones was the hero for the Barons, hitting four straight free throws to take the lead and cement the victory with a score of 78-75. Gil Gonzalez was a standout performer, leading with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals. Jakobe Jones also shone coming off the bench and contributed 21 points. Brewton-Parker's offense was resilient and bounced back despite blowing a lead in the second half. Head Coach Leonard Epps expressed his joy at seeing his team remain resilient and not give up. Despite giving up a lead, he appreciated their response to adversity in the face of a strong push from their opponent, which allowed them to dig deep and still find a way to win. Looking ahead, Brewton-Parker will host Webber International University on November 1, 2025, at home, aiming to build on their current undefeated record of 2-0.