By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Updated: Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:54 AM CST

PARK HILLS — Dreadful free-throw shooting on Wednesday night pushed the Mineral Area College men’s basketball team to the brink of dropping its second consecutive home game.

But freshman center Demetrius Harris banked the decisive basket along the low block with 2.8 seconds remaining, and the Cardinals escaped with a 64-63 win over nationally-ranked Division II opponent Lewis & Clark.

Harris scored 13 points overall and ignited an often lethargic Mineral Area offense with back-to-back transition dunks after Lewis & Clark surged to a double-digit advantage early in the second half.

Carlton Guyton drilled a pull-up jumper for MAC with 20 seconds left, representing the third of five lead changes over the final 1:03, but Jimmy Payton answered with two go-ahead free throws for the Trailblazers.

The Cardinals (3-2) instantly broke pressure to cross midcourt on their final possession, and Harris made a strong pivot move after taking an entry pass from sophomore guard Drew Thomas.

Guyton netted 17 points and four assists to pace Mineral Area, which made 13 steals to help negate a 6-for-26 showing from the charity stripe. Riley Raulston scored eight points and Josh Minner added seven in the victory.

Anthony Jones and Bryson Smith sandwiched two 3-pointers around a fast-break slam by Rashaud Turner, and Lewis & Clark (4-1) enjoyed a 39-29 margin after mounting a 19-5 scoring run out of halftime.

Mineral Area countered with intense full-court defense, and began its rally with two straight jumpers by Guyton, who eventually tied the contest at 40-40 with a triple from the left wing.

The ensuing sequence saw Harris race the other way for a follow slam after initially poking the ball away from the Trailblazers. He then flushed a 2-on-1 lob pass while drawing a foul to continue the momentum.

Jones converted a three-point play with 3:50 remaining to bring Lewis & Clark even at 56-56, and led the Trailblazers with 15. Payton added 11 points and Turner pulled down eight rebounds.

MAC began the action with a 9-0 spurt capped by a corner three from Raulston, but missed their next eight shots from the field. The Cardinals led just 24-20 at intermission after committing four straight turnovers.

Lewis & Clark  20  43 - 63

Mineral Area  24  40 - 64

SCORING:

Lewis & Clark - A Jones 15, Payton 11, Pierrevikus 7, Lowery 6, Turner 6, Henry 6, Johnson 3, Smith 3, Scott 3, J Jones 3. 3-point FG - A Jones 3, Lowery 2, Smith.

Mineral Area - Guyton 17, Harris 13, Raulston 8, Minner 7, Thomas 5, Peebles 5, Wright 4, Rapier 2, Crittendon 2, Ferguson 1. 3-point FG - Guyton 2, Raulston 2, Thomas, Peebles.

FT Shooting:  LC 13-20  MAC 6-26

FG Shooting:  LC 22-53 (41.5%)  MAC 26-58 (44.8%)

Rebounds:  LC 40  MAC 40

Turnovers:  LC 19  MAC 17