HOUSTON – Andrew Gonzalez scored a career-high 36 points, including five in overtime, and Houston Baptist won for just the third time this season, defeating Chicago State 97-94 on Thursday night.
Gonzalez, one of the leading scorers in Division I at 22.1 points per game, gave the Huskies (3-18, 1-4) an 89-84 lead with 2:28 remaining in overtime with a basket, his second of the extra session. Shawn Echols made 5 of 8 free throws in overtime to help Houston Baptist maintain its lead.
Carl Montgomery led the Cougars (5-16, 2-3 Great West) with 35 points and 16 rebounds. He made 12 of 18 shots from the field but was just 11 of 20 from the free-throw line.
Either team could have won this one at the free-throw line. Chicago State missed 15 free throws, making just 63 percent (26 of 41), and Houston Baptist missed 21 attempts (24 of 45, 53 percent).
Chicago State blew an eight-point lead (80-72) with 2:49 in regulation as Gonzalez keyed a 9-0 run that gave the Huskies an 81-80 lead with 52 seconds left. Carl Montgomery's basket with 2 seconds remaining allowed the Cougars to tie it at 82 and send the game to overtime.
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