ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Xavier Davenport poured in a season-high 20 points and Alvin Miles hit two clutch free throws with four seconds remaining on Monday night to help Henderson State outlast East Central 70-69 in overtime at the Duke Wells Center.
The win improved the Reddies to 15-9 on the year and 11-7 in GAC play.

Henderson shot just 33% from the floor in the game, but its defense was superb as usual and held ECU to 32.9% shooting on the other end. HSU connected on 10 3-pointers — just the second time this year the Reddies have hit 10 or more in a game — five of which came from Davenport.

HSU led 34-31 at the break thanks in large part to the efforts of Davenport, who was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc in the period and had 14 of his points in the first 20 minutes. The Tigers also benefitted from deep, however, and used eight first-half threes to stay within striking distance.

The Reddies increased their lead in the opening minutes of the second and used a 3-pointer from Yuri Swinford and a bucket from Tomislav Micholjcic to go in front 49-41 at the 12:04 mark. After the basket by Miholjcic, Henderson went cold from the field and did not score for nearly six minutes. East Central took advantage and used an 11-0 run to surge into the lead, 52-49, with 7:06 to go.

Baskets by Davenport and Quawn Marshall briefly gave HSU the lead back, 53-52, but the game continued to swing back and forth. With the score tied at 56-56, the Tigers gained the upper hand after they got back-to-back buckets to seize a 60-56 advantage with only two minutes remaining.

Needing an answer, the Reddies got a 4-0 run of their own from Miles, who got two tough layups to go on consecutive possessions to tie the game again at 60-60 with 1:15 left. Both teams had chances in the last minute to win the game in regulation, but Henderson missed three shots and ECU missed two on its end to send the game into overtime.

HSU scored the first basket in extra time, but five-straight from East Central put the Tigers in front, 65-62. After scoring just two points in regulation, Malik Riddle came up big for the Reddies and drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game, 65-65, then hit another moments later to give Henderson a 68-67 lead with 2:33 left.

The one-point lead held up for over two minutes for the Reddies, but with time winding down ECU got a fast break opportunity on a long rebound and was able to convert a driving layup in transition with 14 seconds to go. Down 69-68 with 8.4 remaining after a timeout, HSU put the ball in the hands of Miles, who turned the corner, got to the rim and was fouled. The Memphis native who hit the game-winner on Saturday for Henderson calmly converted both shots to give the Reddies the lead.

Riddle, who hit the two clutch 3-pointers moments before, iced the game for HSU on the ensuing inbounds play, as he jumped up and stole the pass as the on-ball defender. His defensive play ran three seconds off the clock and ECU was unable to get a shot off after his free throw miss, ending another heart-stopper in Henderson's favor.

The Reddies return to the floor on Thursday when they travel to Durant, Oklahoma to take on Southeastern Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m.