Julian Cuillier forced overtime with a jumper at the buzzer before Brody Thompson scored five points in the extra period to lift the Snow College men's basketball team to a 106-101 victory over No. 8 Indian Hills Community College Friday inside the Hellyer Center in Ottumwa, Iowa.
The victory snapped Indian Hills' 29-game home winning streak. The Warriors had not lost inside the Hellyer Center since Snow College earned a 93-88 victory Dec. 13, 2024. Indian Hills won its final eight home games of the 2024-25 season, went 20-0 at home last season and defeated North Platte Community College in this season's home opener.
Snow College fell behind during the opening minutes before James Rust connected from beyond the arc and Easton Hawkins scored inside. The Badgers took the lead on two Rust free throws and began to create separation midway through the half. Shane Skidmore scored four consecutive points before Max Toombs converted a layup to give Snow College a 19-11 advantage.
Dino Roberts Jr. made two free throws to increase the lead to 10 with 12:54 remaining. IHCC answered with a 10-3 run to pull within 24-20, but Toombs scored inside before Cuillier connected from 3-point range. The Warriors eventually trimmed the deficit to one before Cuillier made another 3-pointer and Amari Davis scored inside to restore a six-point advantage.
IHCC pulled within three during the final minutes of the half, but Cuillier made two free throws before Rust scored with five seconds remaining. Snow College entered halftime leading 48-41 after shooting 47 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc.
The Warriors erased the deficit during the opening eight minutes of the second half and took a 60-59 lead. Snow College answered as Hawkins made two free throws and Rust scored following consecutive offensive rebounds. Skidmore added a basket to put the Badgers ahead 71-68 with just over eight minutes remaining.
IHCC responded with a 15-4 run and built its largest lead of the game at 83-75 with 4:31 to play. The Warriors maintained an eight-point advantage with less than a minute remaining before Snow College began its comeback. Cuillier scored with 50 seconds left, and Rust collected a steal before assisting Roberts on a 3-pointer that cut the deficit to 93-90.
Cuillier made two free throws before Roberts connected on another 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining to bring Snow College within one. Indian Hills made one free throw on its next possession to take a 97-95 lead. Cuillier then drove the floor and made a jumper as time expired to tie the game at 97 and force overtime.
Davis scored on Snow College's opening possession of overtime, but IHCC answered with four consecutive points. Thompson then provided the decisive basket, connecting from beyond the arc with 2:58 remaining to give the Badgers a 102-101 lead.
The Snow College defense held IHCC scoreless for the remainder of the game. Rust collected a steal with 22 seconds remaining before Thompson made two free throws. Kobe Jones secured the final defensive rebound and made two additional free throws to complete the five-point victory.
Cuillier led the Badgers with 25 points, including 15 during the second half. He made 13 of 14 free throws and added three assists and two steals. Davis finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Rust recorded 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Toombs added 13 points and six rebounds, and Roberts scored 12 points.
Snow College shot 45 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the free-throw line. The Badgers made 38 of their 45 attempts at the line and outrebounded Indian Hills 42-40. Snow College improved to 3-1 with the victory.
The Badgers will complete the Norris Asphalt Classic against Sauk Valley Community College Saturday at 10 a.m. CST inside the Hellyer Center. For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.
