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BLOOMSBURG – It was the season for 3-pointers for Lorenzo Christmas (Norristown/Norristown) at Nelson Field House on Saturday afternoon as the senior sent the Bloomsburg men's basketball team into the holiday break by racking up a game-high 23 points on six buckets from the perimeter in a 67-64 overtime victory over visiting Gannon.

The victory sends Bloomsburg's record to 7-3 overall while Gannon slips to 6-5.

Gannon held an early edge, stretching its lead to eight 13 minutes into the game, the largest lead of the day for either side. Bloomsburg closed to within four at the halftime break, however, at 33-29.

The Huskies took their first lead of the second half on a trey from Christmas with 12:53 left in regulation for a 39-38 edge, but Gannon would embark on a 10-2 run for a seven-point lead with 9:38 to play following a jumper from Adam Blazek.

Bloomsburg rattled off the next nine points with eight coming from Christmas, including two 3-point baskets, for a 50-48 lead. Free throws from A'Darius Porter tied the game, but the Huskies played long ball again with a 3-pointer from Jon Riles (Philadelphia/Academy of the New Church) momentarily breaking the tie.

The two teams found themselves all square once more (53-53) following a traditional three-point play from Raphell Thomas-Edwards to highlight a 7-0 break by the visitors for a four-point lead with 2:08 remaining following another move in the lane by Blazek.

A thundering dunk from Alssene Saintilus (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) off an alley-oop by Riles thrilled the home fans and closed the gap to two (57-55) with 64 seconds to play. A missed free throw and turnover handed the ball back to the Huskies and Riles made good on two shots at the line for the 57-57 tie and just 12 seconds to go. Gannon held for the last shot of regulation, but a 3-point effort by Blazek caught iron to send the teams to the extra period.

Bloomsburg dominated overtime, grabbing a lead it would not relinquish on a free throw from Christmas to start the scoring. Moustapha Noumbissi (Upper Darby/Delaware County Christian School), in his first action since Nov. 23 due to injury, delivered a layup for the 60-57 lead before Rogerio Livramento made one of two at the line for a two-point separation. Wes Lyons (Millville/Millville) drove the lane for two to stretch the Huskies lead to two possessions and the Bloomsburg lead grew to as much as six following free throws by Christmas.

Gannon gave one last gasp in the waning seconds, pulling to within in a point (65-64) on a 3-ball by Blazek with 49 seconds to go. Following a timeout, Riles drove to the basket for the score with the shot clock waning for a 67-64 lead. Blazek fired a shot from long range attempting to tie at the buzzer, but missed the mark to allow Bloomsburg to score the triumph.

Christmas connected on six of nine attempts from long range on the day and also handed out four assists. Riles matched a career-high with 17 points along with five assists while finishing a perfect shooting day – the junior guard hit all five field goal attempts including three 3-pointers and also was 4-of-4 at the line in a standout effort. Saintilus recorded another strong performance as well with 16 points.

Blazek turned in a starring effort for Gannon with a game-high 21 points, seven boards and five assists. Thomas-Edwards finished with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Bloomsburg is idle until Jan. 3 when it welcomes Clarion to Nelson Field House in another PSAC crossover game.

GAME NOTES: Noumbissi came off the bench after starting the first five games of the season and played 28 minutes with five rebounds and tied a career-high with four blocks … the Huskies matched a season-high with nine 3-pointers; six from Christmas and three from Riles … the trio of Christmas, Riles and Saintilus combined for 56 of Bloomsburg's 67 points … Bloomsburg improved to 5-0 at home … the Huskies are now 2-0 in overtime games this year. BU went 5-1 in games needing extra time last season.