Long Island Lutheran boys basketball team drops second straight with OT loss to AZ Compass
Long Island Lutheran's V.J. Edgecombe (1) moves the ball against AZ Compass during the Spalding Hoophall Classic on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Springfield, Mass. Credit: Hans Pennink
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — With his team down by two points with 11.8 seconds to play in overtime, Long Island Lutheran coach John Buck fell to the Blake Arena floor after AZ Compass grabbed two consecutive offensive rebounds.
AZ Compass guard Caleb Miles made one of two free throws and the Crusaders missed two chances at the tying three-pointer before the buzzer in a 65-62 loss Monday afternoon at the Spalding Hoophall Classic on the campus of Springfield College.
After missing a final attempt before the buzzer, VJ Edgecombe, as frustrated as his coach, also was prone on the floor for a few seconds in front of the bench.
“Our kids wanted it more,” AZ Compass coach Pete Kaffey said. “We know we can beat the best of the best.”
Long Island Lutheran declined to make players or coaches available to the media after the game.
Ranked No. 2 in the SCNext Top 25 entering the week, the Crusaders (11-3) endured a sour weekend after also losing Saturday. No. 9 AZ Compass improved to 7-7.
Kayden Mingo led the Crusaders with 17 points and four assists. Edgecombe added 13 points the day after announcing his commitment to Baylor.
Lutheran made a change in its starting lineup from the previous game, inserting 6-11 forward Alier Maluk. After a slow start, Maluk blocked four shots.
The Crusaders fell behind by five midway through the first quarter, unable to contain Compass’ physical guards and two post players.
Compass, from Chandler, Arizona, built a six-point first-quarter advantage as the Crusaders missed 10 of their 12 first-quarter shots.
Lutheran responded by making more than 60% of its shots in the middle quarters, with Edgecombe and Mingo hitting three-pointers to give the Crusaders a four-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
Lutheran’s Tajae Jones hauled down an offensive rebound and converted a putback on the first possession out of the break. Compass tied it with 72 seconds to play on free throws.
“We wanted it more for sure,” AZ Compass’ Vyctorius Miller said. “We were just locked in and knew it wasn’t going to be a blowout.”
Miller started overtime with a three-pointer from in front of his bench. Lutheran’s Ben Michaels responded with a three-pointer two possessions later.
Edgecombe drove to the basket and contact went uncalled, and then he missed a corner three-pointer.
“We kept our integrity,” Miller said. “The refs made some [bad] calls, but that comes with the game. We just all bought in.”
