THE OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 60-57 Oak Hills 
• Venue: Clark-Danielson Gymnasium, North Central University
• Attendance: 50
• Record: Sabercats are now 6-2
• Next Game for MBU: Monday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. vs Knox

THE LEAD

MINNEAPOLIS -- A buzzer-beater from David Lerma rallied the Sabercats to take home their fifth consecutive NCCAA regional win over Oak Hills Christian College Saturday afternoon.

A career-high 21 points from Lerma led MBU, who won the game despite shooting a season-worst 30 percent from the field. Jonathan Book continued his stellar play with a 16-point showing.

THE STORY

It took Maranatha 8 minutes to record 10 points, as both teams struggled with turnovers and missed chances in the opening minutes. MBU was grinding through a difficult first half when 7 points from Lerma in the last 6 minutes lifted the Sabercats to a 5-point lead entering halftime.

After a sloppy opening 20 minutes, the two teams combined for less than 50 points. Lerma and Book both put up 10 points in the first half to lead the scoring in the game.

Both teams were slightly more precise in the second half, and Oak Hills seemed set on changing the game. The Wolfpack pestered the Sabercats in the opening exchanges, and OHCC grabbed their first lead at 35-34 just 7 minutes in.

Oak Hills gave Maranatha a scare by extending the lead to 7 points, which was the Wolfpack's biggest lead of the afternoon. At the 3-minute mark, the Wolfpack held a 5-point lead at 55-50. 

Enter Lerma.

With the Sabercats' backs against the wall, the transfer junior recorded 8 points over the final 2-and-a-half minutes to rescue the regional streak for MBU. Lerma sunk a 3-pointer with 1:28 on the clock to give the Sabercats their first lead since the 11:04 mark.

The Wolfpack responded immediately with a jumper to tie the game at 57. After a tradeoff of misses, Rob Sonnenberg gathered a defensive rebound to give MBU the final possession with 30 seconds on the clock.

Without calling a timeout, the Sabercats stayed patient with their final chance. After CJ Jones found Lerma in 3-point range, the newcomer made no mistake. Lerma connected with the final shot with 3 seconds on the clock to win the game for MBU.

THE NUMBERS

Lerma led the scoring category with 21 points.

Book finished with a line of 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Micah Shepard contributed 7 points and 11 rebounds.

MBU shot a season-worst 30.4 percent from the field.

With the win, Maranatha leads the series, 2-0.

THE CALENDAR

The Sabercats return home Monday to face Knox College in the first meeting between the two schools. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. Catch the details at mbusabercats.com/composite.