WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Interstat) — In a game defined by clutch free throws and a final, stunning shot, Jason Rivera-Torres scored 26 points and Corey Miller hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer to lift Monmouth to an 83-81 victory over North Carolina A&T in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball thriller on Thursday night.

The Hawks, who trailed for nearly the entire regulation, finally drew even at 72-72 on a Stefanos Spartalis layup with 56 seconds left in the second half. Both teams had chances to win in the final half-minute, but a turnover by North Carolina A&T’s Dwayne Pierce with one second left sent the game to an extra period before an announced crowd of 1,419 at the Multipurpose Activity Center.

The overtime was a tense, back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes. The Aggies took their final lead, 81-80, on two Lewis Walker free throws with 33 seconds remaining. Monmouth called timeout to set up a play, and Rivera-Torres, the Bronx native who played all 45 minutes, delivered a tough pull-up jumper from the elbow to put the Hawks back ahead with 11 seconds left.

After a North Carolina A&T timeout, the Aggies inbounded to Pierce, who was fouled by Spartalis on a drive with 4.4 seconds on the clock. Pierce, an 87% free-throw shooter on the season, made the first to tie the game at 81 but missed the second attempt. Monmouth’s Will Felton secured the defensive rebound and immediately called timeout with 3.3 seconds left.

On the ensuing inbounds play, Miller, a junior guard from nearby Ocean Township, New Jersey, took a handoff from Rivera-Torres, dribbled left and launched a deep 3-pointer from the wing over a closing defender. The shot swished through the net as the horn sounded, setting off a celebration at midcourt and giving Monmouth its second overtime win of the season.

The dramatic finish capped a resilient effort by the Hawks, who overcame a slow start and a four-point halftime deficit. North Carolina A&T, led by Trent Middleton’s 21 points and Walker’s 24, controlled much of the contest with efficient offense and physical defense. The Aggies shot 48.3% from the field and a stellar 87% from the foul line, converting 20 of 23 attempts.

Monmouth, however, countered with superior ball security and timely shooting. The Hawks committed only seven turnovers, half of North Carolina A&T’s total, and recorded seven steals. While they shot a lower percentage overall, they made 21 of 25 free throws and hit six 3-pointers, including the two most critical ones late. Spartalis, a 6-foot-9 forward from Greece, added 21 points, five rebounds and two blocks for Monmouth.

The game’s most pivotal sequence came in the final minute of regulation. With the score tied, North Carolina A&T held for the last shot. Pierce drove the lane but lost control of the ball, which was stolen by Monmouth’s Justin Ray. The Hawks raced the other way but could not get a clean look, sending the game to overtime tied.

In the extra period, neither team led by more than two points. Zamoku Weluche-Ume, who had 13 points and three blocks for the Aggies, fouled out with 2:30 left, weakening North Carolina A&T’s interior defense. The teams traded baskets and free throws until Miller’s heroics decided it.

The victory improved Monmouth to 11-11 overall and 5-4 in the CAA, while North Carolina A&T fell to 9-11 and 3-6. The Aggies had entered the game on a two-game winning streak, including a narrow home victory over Towson just five days prior.

Statistically, the game was a study in contrasting styles. North Carolina A&T dominated the glass with 12 offensive rebounds and outscored Monmouth in the paint 46-38. The Hawks, however, leveraged their advantages in assists (7-2) and steals (7-2) to generate extra possessions. Both teams posted nearly identical offensive ratings, with the Aggies at 111.1 points per 100 possessions and the Hawks at 110.9, underscoring the game’s razor-thin margin.

Monmouth, which had been an 8.5-point pregame favorite according to sportsbooks, defied a national analytics projection that gave them an 89% probability to win, but needed every second to secure the result. The combined score of 164 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 143.5.

North Carolina A&T will look to rebound quickly as they continue a road trip at Drexel on Saturday. Monmouth, meanwhile, will host Hofstra on Saturday, aiming to build momentum from a victory secured in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.