INDEPENDENCE — Few things have been as constant this month as Allen Community College’s men dealing with heartbreak.
For the second time in 48 hours the Red Devils dropped an overtime road loss.
Monday’s 97-88 setback at Independence Community College marked the fifth time this season Allen has fallen in games that have come down to the last shot in regulation.
This time, the Red Devils had to overcome a miserable start to force the overtime.
Independence got off to a blistering beginning from outside, and soon put Allen in arrears by 24 points.
But Allen was able to chip away, pulling within 44-36 at the break.
The Pirates got off quickly again in the second half, re-establishing a 12-point lead, but the Red Devils, keyed by sophomore Adamdou Traore, didn’t go quietly into the night.
Allen tied the score with 5 minutes remaining, setting up an exciting back and forth to wind up regulation.
The Pirates led by two before Allen’s Cedric Rollerson hit a runner to tie the score with 1.5 seconds left.
But Independence had too much in the tank in the extra session.
Traore was a monster down low for Allen, scoring 32 points on 15-of-19 shooting from the field. Freddie Word added 19 and Shaikim Jenks scored 15.
The Red Devils return home Wednesday, but must take on Coffeyville’s Red Ravens, the second-ranked team in the NJCAA-Division I standings.
MONDAY’S gut punch followed a similar formula from Saturday’s heartbreaker, an 89-83 overtime loss at Garden City.
The Red Devils alternated leads with Garden City 18 times before Allen pushed ahead by nine with 4 minutes left.
It didn’t last.
Back-to-back turnovers keyed Garden City’s comeback.
Allen’s Ahmed Mahgoub scored with 30 seconds to tie the score, but he missed a subsequent free throw, keeping the game tied.
