BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat Post, 86-82 in overtime, at the Bridgeport Tournament to begin the 2021-2022 season. With the victory, Southern is 1-0 overall, while Post is 0-1.

Lyron Bennett (Boston, Mass.) led the Owls with 22 points, 17 coming in the second half to jump start the Owls' comeback. Bennett hit on 8-of-11 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. He also chipped in six assists and three steals.

C.J. Seaforth (Hamden, Conn.) posted 18 points, highlighted by 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range, and 3-of-5 in the second half. He also grabbed six boards and dished out four assists. Ulyen Coleman (Brockton, Mass.) finished with 15 points and six rebounds in his first action since the 2018-19 season. Aaron Russell (Bowie, Md.), in his collegiate debut, hit on 10-of-11 free throws on his way to 14 points off the bench. Jamal Waters, also making his SCSU debut after missing his freshman season in 2019-20 to injury, had eight points and 10 rebounds, with five on the offensive end.

How It Happened 
First Half

• Both teams traded baskets through the first seven minutes of the game, but Southern took their first lead of the afternoon on a dunk by Waters to make it 12-11. 
• Post responded by going on a 17-2 run to take a 28-14 lead with 8:04 remaining in the half. Southern was able to cut the lead down to 32-22 at the 4:17 mark after a pair of Coleman free throws, but Post took a 38-26 lead into the break.

Second Half

• Post opened the second half on a 11-3 run to take their largest lead of the game, 49-29, with 16:36 left. Southern was able to cut the lead down to 13 by going on a 12-4 run, fueled by five points from Bennett and capped by a layup by Alex Lin (Hillsdale, N.J.).
• Post upped their lead back up to 18 with 10:07 remaining, and maintained a 17 point lead at 64-47 with 6:33 remaining.
• Southern then mounted it's comeback, and scored 11 straight points, five of them from Seaforth, to bring the Eagles' lead down to six with 2:37 left. Post led by eight with just over a minute remaining, but Russell and Bennett then went a combined 6-for-6 from the free three throw line to bring it to one possession. 
• Coleman and Bennett then knocked down a pair of three-pointers in between four free throws from Post. With seven seconds to play, Isaiah Boissard (Walden, N.Y.) drove the length of the court and hit a lay-up at the buzzer sent the game to overtime.

Overtime 

• In the extra frame, the Owls' outscored Post, 14-10, keyed by Coleman's eight points and two three-pointers. With the game tied at 73-73 with 4:11 to go, Coleman knocked-down a three to give the Owls' a three-point lead before Russell's layup put the Owls on-top by five.
• Post answered with five straight points to tie the game at 78-78 before Coleman converted again from long range to put the Owls ahead for good, 81-78, with 1:10 to play. The Owls converted on 5-of-6 from the free throw line to seal the game.

Notes

• Bennett tied his career-high with 22 points, also done on Feb. 25, 2020 at Adelphi, Feb. 19, 2020 vs New Haven, and Dec, 14, 2019 vs University of the Sciences. 
• Zack Penn (New Hartford, Conn.) recorded his fourth career game with at least 10 rebounds. 
• Russell became the first Southern player to score at least 10 points in his first collegiate game since Mikey Mozzicato on Nov. 10, 2018, also against Post. Russell's 14 points were also the most by a Southern player in their first collegiate game since Taurus Adams II on Nov. 12, 2016 against Holy Family. 
• This is Southern's first season-opening win since defeating Holy Family, 105-103, to begin the 2016-2017 season.
• The last time the Owls came back from at least 20 points and won was on Jan. 29. 2013 against Southern New Hampshire, when they came back from 27-4, a 23-point deficit, and won 62-56.
• Southern forced 21 turnovers, their most in a season-opening game since forcing 21 on Nov. 14, 2015 against Dominican. 

Up Next
Southern finishes the Bridgeport Tournament tomorrow against Goldey-Beacom at 1:00 p.m. at Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium.