It took two overtimes but the Liberty White squad defeated the Liberty Blue squad 82-80 at the Vines Center on Thursday night.

A layup by Anthony Smith of the Blue squad with 1:35 left in regulation knotted the score at 71 apiece and concluded a comeback that saw the Blue team down by as many as 12 points in the second half. The White team ran the clock down for a final shot but a missed three-point field goal by T.J. Bannister sent the game into the first over-time period.

Since it was only a scrimmage the over-time clock was set at two minutes. B.J. Jenkins hit a three-point basket with 26 seconds left on a Larry Blair pass to give the Blue team a 78-76 advantage.

The White team stormed up the court and Tyler Baker had a put back basket on a Bannister miss with four seconds left to tie the game at 78 apiece and send it into the second over-time.

The second over-time clock was set at a minute with the White team getting a quick jump as Dominique Jones put the White team up by two points after the tip was knocked his way giving the White squad a 80-78 lead. Blair came down the court immediately and tied the game up at 80 apiece with 29 seconds left in the second overtime.

Baker came through big again for the White team as he got a Dwight Brewington miss and put it in for what became the game-winning basket with three seconds left giving the White team a 82-80 lead. On the next play Bannister stole the ball on a Alex McLean turnover as time ran out sealing the victory for the White squad.

Blair led all scorers with 29 points to go with six assists and 5-for-8 shooting from three-point range. Other top performers for the Blue team were McLean who had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Smith scored 17 points on 3-for-6 shooting from three-point range to round out the Blue team’s top performers.

Brewington led an impressive attack with 24 points 9 rebounds for the White squad as four players scored in double figures. Due to the NCAA transfer rule, Brewington, the Providence transfer will be unable to play until the December 16 game at St. Francis (Pa.). Bannister set the table for the White team with 18 points and eight assists. Bannister is sitting out this season due to the NCAA transfer rule. The White team got a double-double from Baker who grabbed 12 rebounds and scored 12 points including what ended up being the game-winning shot. Rounding out the White team’s top performers was Russell Monroe who scored 14 points and grabbed three rebounds.

The Flames start their exhibition season on November 4 against Barton College at the Vines Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The Flames have their second and final exhibition game against Cedarville on November 11 with a 4:30 p.m. scheduled start at the Vines Center. The Flames open up the regular season at Oklahoma on November 16. Tip time is set for 8 p.m. EST.