Beckstedt Pours In 30 As Edison Knocks Off Cuyahoga In OT

By Dale Barger/Edison Sports Information

Piqua, OH---There was no time to rest for the Edison Men's basketball team after knocking off Cincinnati State on Wednesday with Cuyahoga Tri-C coming to town.

The game unfolded into one of contrasting styles, Edison's perimeter game vs. Cuyahoga's inside game, which would prevail?

The Chargers got off to a good start with Eric Beckstedt and Kelly Kirtz both knocking down 2 treys each to go up 18-13 with 12 minutes to play in the first half.

Cuyahoga battled back on the inside strength of their big man Joshua Reagan to grab a 25-24 lead at the eight minute mark.

Behind Beckstedt, Edison regained their hot hand from the outside as he scored 21 1st half points on 5-of-6 shooting from behind the arch giving Edison a 46-37 lead.

Early in the 2nd half Tri-C whittled away the Edison lead as Jamaine Freeman penetrated for some easy baskets and Chris Cromity found his range from the outside.

Cuyahoga kept within a point or two much of the 2nd half but couldn't quite get over the hump due to some timely playmaking by the Edison Chargers.

With Tri-C focusing attention on Beckstedt, Jordan Taylor stepped forward…and during one stretch he made three triples in a row to take away some of the pressure from Beckstedt.

Tri-C big man Josh Reagan kept hammering away inside and wouldn't allow Edison to get too far ahead.  Reagan finished the contest with game high honors scoring 39 on 14-for-18 shooting from the field and 10-of-13 from the free throw line.

It was Reagan who would hit the game-tying basket for Cuyahoga at the end of regulation to knot the score at 79 to send the game to overtime.

Reagan struck first in overtime…but Edison quickly tied it on a Nick Tingle fielder.

But just as Reagan was a thorn in the side of Edison so was Eric Beckstedt to Cuyahoga as he struck for his 8th trey on the night that would prove be the lethal blow to put Edison back on top 84-81 and the Chargers held on for an 85-83 victory.

Beckstedt finished with a team high 30 points on 8-of-11 from behind the arch.

On this night the perimeter game of Edison was just good enough…as a team they made 16-of-27 for 57%.

Edison had two other players in double figure scoring with Jordan Taylor adding 19 and Brandon Ervin 10.  Ervin also pulled down 12 rebounds and Kelly Kirtz handed out 9 dimes.

Cuyahoga players Jamaine Freeman went for 14 points and Chris Cromity added 10 for Tri-C.

Edison raises their record to 8-6 overall and 2-0 in OCCAC conference play and will be back in action traveling to Sinclair on Wednesday to take on the Tartans.