Chargers Push Top-Ranked Tommies to Triple Overtime in 121–118 Thriller
The fifth-ranked Chargers went toe-to-toe with the first-ranked Tommies, the No. 6 team in the country, before narrowly falling 121–118 in triple overtime Friday night in a game that lived up to its billing.
The Chargers showed they belong among the best, matching the Tommies possession for possession over 55 minutes of action. The game featured 17 ties and 17 lead changes, with neither team able to create separation until the final seconds of the third overtime.
Ethan Culberson led the Chargers with 24 points, delivering timely scoring throughout regulation and the overtime periods. Luca Del Bosco was dominant inside, finishing with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Colby McIntosh added 16 points and 7 assists to orchestrate the offense.
The Chargers' depth was on full display, as the bench accounted for 75 points, providing crucial energy and production against the top-ranked Tommies.
After regulation ended tied, neither team could pull away in the first two overtime periods. The Chargers continued to answer every Tommies run with clutch baskets and defensive stops, forcing a third extra frame.
In the final overtime, the Tommies capitalized on key possessions and free throws down the stretch to edge out the Chargers, despite another late push from the home side.