LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Throughout the entire game, everyone in the stands at the National Stadium court seemed to be thinking the same thing. Will Slayers actually pull it off?

The 2005 and 2006 champions, St George's Slayers, were playing perennial rival and reigning champs Urban Knights in the final game of the preliminary round before entering the best-of-three quarter-final series in the KFC National Basketball League.

Prove a point

Slayers, who entered the game with an 11-10 record, their worst in a long time, were looking to prove a point against the fancied Knights with their unbeaten record of 21 games. In the end, Urban Knights slapped the sour taste of defeat right out of their own mouths as they pulled off a thrilling 88-85 overtime win.

"Whenever Slayers and Urban Knights meet, you know it's the best game of the season and Urban Knights showed up and they have learnt how to win," said Slayers' coach Lamar Dixon. "They stayed composed, they didn't panic, they ran their plays. Slayers don't know how to win as yet. We did, before, but lost that composure. Urban Knights kept theirs."

Dixon's reference to lack of composure played out in an ugly manner after his shooting guard, Michael Jackson, was ejected with less than a minute remaining and the game tied at 85. Seconds earlier, the bench got a technical foul for an over-zealous reaction to a referee's decision against them. Both technical fouls, plus a personal foul, meant Knights had six free throws.

Point Guard Javon Bailey, who was decisive in overtime and led Knights with 19 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, was atrocious at the free throw line and missed his two free throws for the personal foul. Omar Barnes, who had 18 points, attempted the four shots for the technical fouls but made only two. Kerron Cain, after being fouled, made one of two free throws for a three-point lead.

With a little more luck, Troy Constantine's three-pointer, as time expired, could have made Urban Knights kick themselves in the derriere for throwing away so many chances to seal the game.

Clinch play-off spot

After struggling to qualify for the play-offs, clinching the seventh spot of the eight advancing teams, Slayers came out roaring in the first quarter, matching their opponent's hustle and scoring.

Howard Daley, who had a team-high 22 points and 15 rebounds, kept them in the game early with his inside presence.

The physicality and intensity of the game swelled in the second quarter and Slayers romped to a 35-25 lead with veteran Rohan Robinson, who ended with 15 points, rolling back the years.

Urban Knights, however, countered and went on a 9-0 run to close the gap at 38-41 at half-time. With centre Oneil Mundle (18 points and 15 rebounds) using his long arms to good effect, Urban Knights had a presence in the key in the second half.

They began to pull away in the fourth quarter, leading 64-59 around the five-minute mark, but Slayers made another push to tie the game. Robinson, left wide open on the right wing, sank a mid-range jumper, to tie the game at 71 and send it into overtime.

Slayers showed signs of breaking Knights' win streak with Jackson (18 points) and Marlon Millis (14 points and eight rebounds) hitting clutch shots. That was when Slayers blew their lid and gave the game to their opponents.

"I thought Slayers were going to come out and break our streak tonight but the guys came out and showed some real class," said Urban Knights' coach, Calvin Martin. "We just lost our heads and didn't stick to what was working," said a dejected Robinson. We know exactly what our problem is ... we are too indisciplined in terms of playing as a team."