Clarksville, Ark.-Sul Ross State University nearly pulled off the unthinkable Saturday as it came back from a 15-point deficit with less than two minutes to go and then had the game-tying shot at the buzzer rim out before the Eagles escaped with a 79-77 win in American Southwest Conference action.
   
Trailing 79-77 with 1.2 second left, Sul Ross State's Stephon Holland intentionally missed his second free throw attempt, which was rebounded by teammate Mike Huffman. Huffman got a clear look in the lane, but his shot rimmed out much to the relief of Ozarks' fans. Ozarks (5-5, 3-4 ASC) led 70-55 with 1:49 remaining in the game, but the Lobos (1-9, 1-4 ASC) stormed back to produce a wild finish. Sul Ross made it 72-59 on a layup with 1:13 left and then hit back-to-back three-pointers to make things interesting. A pair of Jace Richardson free throws with 39 seconds remaining pushed Ozarks' lead to 74-67, but the Lobos responded as Holland sank a shot and drilled another three-pointer to get the Lobos within 77-72 with 11 seconds left. Josh Ferrell made two free throws to make it 79-74, but the Lobos weren't done as Holland forced a turnover and made a layup with two seconds remaining. Ozarks fouled in the backcourt to send Holland to the line where he sank the first and then intentionally missed the second to give his team a chance at the rebound.
    
Josh Berard hit a trio of three-pointers to score 16 second half points for Ozarks.  Berard's timely shots would come just as Sul Ross State would gain momentum. Kelby Robinson and Richardson posted 11 and 10 points, respectively in the first half to help Ozarks hold a 41-30 halftime advantage.
    
Berard finished with 24 points, while Richardson added 20. Robinson ended with 12.  

Ozarks will host Howard Payne University January 5.