CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — In a Southern Conference rematch that required an extra period to decide, The Citadel avenged an overtime loss from two weeks prior by outlasting UNC Greensboro 71-66 on Saturday at McAlister Field House.

The game, witnessed by 1,133 fans, saw both teams move to 8-15 overall on the season. It was a contest defined by grinding defense, poor shooting and critical turnovers, ultimately decided by The Citadel’s superior execution in the final minutes of overtime.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the closing seconds of regulation and the beginning of overtime. With the score tied at 60 and under 35 seconds to play in the second half, UNC Greensboro’s Justin Neely committed a costly turnover, stolen by The Citadel’s Logan Applegate. The Bulldogs ran down the clock but could not get a final shot to fall, sending the game to an extra period.

The Citadel seized immediate control in overtime. Sola Adebisi won the opening tip, and after a defensive stop, Christian Moore hit a jumper to give the Bulldogs a lead they would not relinquish. On the ensuing possession, Neely turned the ball over again, leading to a fast-break layup by Braxton Williams. Just over a minute into overtime, The Citadel had established a four-point cushion, a decisive margin in a low-scoring affair.

UNC Greensboro, which had won the previous meeting 69-66 in overtime on Jan. 15, never recovered from that initial overtime burst. The Spartans managed only six points in the extra period, missing all four of their three-point attempts.

The game was a struggle offensively for both squads. The Citadel shot just 38.7% from the field but connected on 10 three-pointers. UNC Greensboro was even colder, finishing at 42.1% overall and a dismal 5 of 24 from beyond the arc. The Spartans also hurt themselves at the free-throw line, making only 13 of 23 attempts.

Turnovers and defense proved pivotal. The Citadel forced 12 Spartan turnovers, converting them into 13 points, while committing only six turnovers of their own. The Bulldogs also recorded eight steals and three blocks, with Adebisi contributing two steals and two blocks to go with nine rebounds.

Individual performances highlighted the tight battle. KJ Younger led all scorers with 24 points for UNC Greensboro, adding five rebounds. Justin Neely posted a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds but was hampered by seven turnovers. Valentino Pinedo added nine points and eight rebounds for the Spartans.

The Citadel’s effort was more balanced. Braxton Williams led the Bulldogs with 14 points and five assists. Christian Moore provided a crucial 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Logan Applegate filled the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sola Adebisi’s defensive presence was felt throughout with his nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

The first half ended with The Citadel holding a narrow 32-30 lead. The Bulldogs extended their advantage to 11 points early in the second half before UNC Greensboro mounted a comeback, fueled by its interior play, finishing with a 38-26 edge in points in the paint. The Spartans finally drew even late in regulation, setting the stage for the overtime drama.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, UNC Greensboro entered the game with a 76.80 percent probability to win. The Citadel’s victory defied those projections and evened the season series between the two conference foes.

Both teams continue Southern Conference play next week. UNC Greensboro hosts Western Carolina on Wednesday. The Citadel begins a road swing at Samford on Thursday.