RICHMOND, Ky. (Interstat) — In a game defined by missed opportunities and a frantic final sequence, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels escaped with an 81-80 overtime victory over the West Georgia Wolves in a tense ASUN Conference men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at McBrayer Arena.

The outcome hinged on the final five seconds of the extra period. With Eastern Kentucky leading 79-77, West Georgia’ Josh Smith was called for a foul on Colonels’ point guard MJ Williams. Williams, who had orchestrated the Eastern Kentucky offense with eight assists, calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to four.

After a West Georgia timeout, the Wolves’ Shelton Williams-Dryden, who finished with a game-high 20 points, raced downcourt and buried a 3-pointer with just over three seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 81-80. Eastern Kentucky’s ensuing inbounds pass was nearly intercepted, leading to a held ball and a final possession for West Georgia with 0.5 seconds left. The Wolves’ last-ditch attempt from Josh Smith missed, allowing the Colonels to secure the narrow win before a crowd of 1,379.

The game was a mirror image of statistical inefficiency, with both teams struggling from the perimeter and the free-throw line. West Georgia shot a dismal 12 for 24 from the charity stripe and just 6 of 23 from 3-point range. Eastern Kentucky was only marginally better, hitting 14 of 21 free throws and 7 of 26 from beyond the arc. Each team scored 42 points in the paint and committed nearly as many turnovers as assists in a grinding, physical contest.

West Georgia, which fell to 12-15 overall, was led by the duo of Williams-Dryden, a 6-foot-6 guard from Milwaukee, and 6-foot-10 forward JaVar Daniel of Memphis, who added 16 points and two blocks. Kolten Griffin contributed 14 points and four assists for the Wolves.

Eastern Kentucky, which improved to 10-18, was paced by Montavious Myrick’s 19 points. The 6-foot-8 forward from Atlanta also added a key block. Tyler Jackson scored 14 points, while Jalen Cooper chipped in 13 points and two blocks. Williams’ eight assists were crucial for a Colonels team that managed only eight as a unit.

The game seemed destined for overtime from the outset of the second half, as neither team could build a substantial lead. Eastern Kentucky took a 34-28 advantage into halftime, but West Georgia’s 41-point second-half output, fueled by interior play, kept the game tight. The Wolves had a chance to win in regulation, but a last-second shot was off the mark, sending the teams to an extra period tied at 69.

In overtime, the Colonels built a four-point lead twice, the final time on Williams’ free throws, which proved just enough to withstand West Georgia’s final 3-point barrage. The game’s most critical sequence was that final foul call on Smith, which sent Williams to the line for the decisive points.

Eastern Kentucky narrowly covered the pregame spread of 5.5 points as a favorite, while the combined score of 161 fell under the projected total of 156. The Colonels, who were given a 75% probability to win by Interstat’s ELO system, avenged an 88-76 loss to West Georgia on Jan. 3.

West Georgia will look to rebound on the road at Queens (N.C.) on Saturday. Eastern Kentucky continues its homestand with a visit from Bellarmine, also on Saturday.