Photos Courtesy of Bob Burleigh

NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware extended the game twice with late three-pointers and took control early in the second overtime as the Blue Hens won another Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball thriller with an 81-74 victory over Old Dominion Saturday night at the Bob Carpenter Center.

League-leading Delaware (8-7, 5-0 CAA), off to a 5-0 start in league play for the first time since the 1991-92 squad went a perfect 14-0 on the way to an NCAA Tournament appearance, took the lead for good a minute into the second overtime period and converted 9 of 14 shots from the charity stripe the rest of the way to preserve the victory.

Delaware, which got a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds from Herb Courtney (bottom right) before he fouled out midway through the second overtime session, snapped a personal five-game losing streak vs. the Monarchs (8-9, 3-2).

The Hens overcame a seven-point deficit in the second half and sent the game into overtime on a three-pointer by Marc Egerson with four seconds left in regulation. A three-pointer by Courtney with 40 seconds left in the first overtime period extended the game once again.

Brandon Johnson scored a season-high 20 points and pulled nine rebounds for Old Dominion while Gerald Lee added 18 points and eight rebounds and Brian Henderson chipped in with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Monarchs held a 45-38 advantage on the boards, pulling down 20 offensive rebounds to Delaware’s 11. Old Dominion, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, suffered its ninth loss of the season but four of them had come earlier this season to Clemson, North Carolina, Louisville, and Georgetown.

The Blue Hens, who avenged an 83-48 loss to Old Dominion a year ago in Norfolk, VA took 14 less shots Saturday night but made them count as Delaware connected on 11 of 30 three-point attempts while ODU was just 5 of 21 from beyond the arc. Delaware was also helped by 26 of 34 shooting from the foul line.

"To be able to win a game like this is a real program builder," said second-year Delaware head coach Monte Ross, who has turned around a team that went 5-26 (3-15 in the CAA) a year ago. "I'm so excited for our guys. They are playing their hearts out and the fans are coming out to support them. We made some big plays in the second half and in the overtime periods."

Alphonso Dawson added 12 points and nine rebounds, Egerson finished with 11 points, and Brian Johnson (top right) chipped in with 11 points and six assists for Delaware, which has won five straight conference games for the first time since joining the league in 2001-02.

The Blue Hens, who overcame a 19-point second half deficit to down George Mason 73-68 in overtime in their last outing on Wednesday night, have now played consecutive overtime games for the first time since the 1972-73 season.

Old Dominion led 30-25 at the half and extended the lead to seven points early in the second half before the Hens fought back to take their first lead since early in the game at 49-48 with 8:21 left in regulation on a Courtney three-pointer. The half featured five more ties before Egerson sent the game into overtime on a three-pointer from the left corner with four seconds left.

The Monarchs took the lead twice in the first overtime, going up 65-62 on two free throws by Henderson and 68-65 on a three-pointer by Henderson with 50 seconds left. But Courtney answered with another three-pointer just 10 seconds later to knot the score at 68-68. The Hens had the chance to win it after a turnover by Brandon Johnson, but Brian Johnson’s three-point attempt missed just before the buzzer.

A jumper by Egerson 53 seconds into the second overtime period put the Hens up for good at 71-70 and Delaware stayed on top thanks to its free throw shooting. Two free throws by Brian Johnson extended the lead to 77-71 with 1:03 left and another free throw with 21 seconds left upped the lead to 78-74. Jim Ledsome hit a free throw with 10 seconds left and after missing his second try, pulled the rebound and converted a dunk to put the game away.

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