MIAMI (Interstat) — In a game defined by a frantic final sequence and a monumental individual performance, the Indian River State Pioneers edged the Miami Dade Sharks 67-66 in a men’s junior college basketball game Wednesday night.

The contest, a rematch of a Jan. 10 meeting also won by Indian River State, was decided in the closing seconds. With the Pioneers clinging to a 67-63 lead after a Terryon Stebbins free throw with three seconds remaining, Miami Dade’s Ernesto Rodriguez connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer to provide the final margin.

The most critical phase of the game occurred in the final two minutes. After Miami Dade’s David Verstraeten missed a jump shot with 2:10 to play, Indian River State’s Anthony Ferrer sank a 3-pointer to push the Pioneers’ lead to 66-63. Following a Miami Dade timeout, Adam Squire hit another 3-pointer for Indian River State with 1:27 left, extending the advantage to 67-63. The Sharks were unable to score again until Rodriguez’s inconsequential buzzer-beater.

Squire was the offensive catalyst for the Pioneers, scoring a game-high 29 points, including seven 3-pointers. His backcourt partner, Caleb Cameron, added 14 points. Tamiel Green provided an interior presence with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Miami Dade was led by a historic performance from David Verstraeten, who recorded 15 points and a remarkable 21 rebounds. Anthony Gilkes scored 16 points, while Rodriguez finished with 14 points and five assists. Randy Smith added 11 points.

The game was a statistical paradox. Miami Dade won several key categories, including assists (11-6), steals (11-6), offensive rebounds (10-5) and committed fewer turnovers (9-15). The Sharks also attempted 16 more field goals. However, Indian River State’s superior shooting from beyond the arc (Interstat) — 11 of 29 compared to Miami Dade’s 11 of 31 (Interstat) — and from the free-throw line, where they made 10 of 20 attempts to Miami Dade’s 5 of 11, proved decisive.

Indian River State built a 34-29 lead after a first quarter marked by efficient shooting. The Pioneers maintained their offensive output in the second quarter with 33 points, but Miami Dade mounted a fierce comeback, scoring 37 points in the period to set up the tense finish.

With the victory, Indian River State improved its season record to 7-10. Miami Dade fell to 6-9. The result defied the pregame analytics, as Interstat’s ELO system had projected Miami Dade with a 67.3 percent probability to win.

Indian River State will host Hillsborough on Saturday. Miami Dade travels to face Florida Southwestern State on Wednesday, Feb. 18.