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Lindner leads frantic Lafayette comeback

11/15/2015, 8:00pm EST
By Stephen Pianovich

Nick Lindner scored 11 of his 22 points in overtime Sunday, leading Lafayette past St. Peter's. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich)
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Nick Lindner knew he was not having a good game.

It started out well, as he scored nine early points and Lafayette jumped out to an 18-point lead in the first half of its home opener against St. Peter's. But that lead evaporated as St. Peter’s stormed back to force overtime, and Lindner was held without a point in the second half. The first three minutes of the extra period didn’t go well either, and the Leopards found themselves in a nine-point hole with two minutes left.

Luckily for Lafayette, two minutes was enough for Lindner to lead a frantic comeback.

The junior guard scored 11 of his team’s final 13 points and the last six in the game, as his offense and the Leopards effective full-court press dramatically pushed them over St. Peter’s, 87-86.

“It was kind of like a nightmare of a game. I was struggling and making bad decisions all around,” Lindner, who ended with 22 points and six assists, told reporters after the game. “My head wasn’t in it, but my teammates and coaches picked me up, they had confidence in me the whole time. Coach was still calling ball screens for me and had faith in me. …Luckily I made some plays down the stretch.”

The biggest of those plays down the stretch was Lindner’s game-winning layup, which came with 12 seconds left as he drove from the right side.

It was remnant of the 2015 Patriot League Tournament when Lindner scored 23.7 points per game and the Leopards went to the big dance. In a fitting coincidence, the Leopards raised their conference tournament banner prior to tip off.

Lindner is averaging 24.5 points per game through two contest as the Germantown Academy grad dropped 27 points on 8-of-18 shooting and 10 made free throws on Friday in Lafayette’s loss to George Washington.

Of course, Lindner didn’t make the comeback alone. The Leopards defense created lots of havoc on inbounds plays as the Peacocks struggled to break their press.

Lafayette had five steals in the last minute-and-a-half, the first two were both Bryce Scott, which led to four points.

“I think they just got rattled to tell you the truth,” coach Fran O’Hanlon said afterward. “You could see it get to them.”

Scott also added an offensive boost with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, which included a 4-for-7 mark from distance. Monty Boykins added 16 points and Matt Klinewski had 12 points and five rebounds.

Sunday’s win wasn’t easy for Lafayette, but for a team replacing three high-scoring seniors, it was a victory that could help shape the season.

“We have a never quit type team, a real scrappy type team, it’s almost a different attitude than last year,” Lindner said. “We had great veteran leadership last year but even more so this year. Sometimes we’re going to have to win games like that and Zach (Rufer) and Bryce do a great job of setting that tone.”


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