COLUMBIA - In a drastic change of tactics, the Pacific Indians took the ball to the basket in overtime Sunday and emerged with a 61-55 win against Jefferson City in the MFA Oil-Break Time Shootout.
For most of regulation, the Indians utilized a perimeter attack let by hot-shooting University of Missouri signee Cullen VanLeer.
When it came time for the extra session, however, Pacific scored on three layups and two free throws while outscoring the Jays 8-2.
Playing at Mizzou Arena on the floor where he'll play his college ball, VanLeer proved to be as good as advertised. He racked up 32 points and 10 rebounds to lead all players in those categories.
"He had an answer every time we had something going," Jefferson City coach Blair Thompson said. "... He showed everybody here the caliber of player he is."
The final result spoiled a great comeback for the Jays. Jefferson City trailed for most of the first three quarters before starting the fourth on an 8-0 run to take its biggest lead of the night at 46-42.
Jefferson City took its final lead at 48-46 on a pair of free throws by Rhylin Spence before VanLeer drilled a 3-pointer.
The Indians eventually pushed the lead to three points before the Jays' O.G. Anunoby canned a 3 with 1:36 left to tie it at 51.
A jumped by Pacific with 1:15 left was followed by an Anunoby layup with :57, tying it at 53.
VanLeer had a jumper at the end of regulation that could have won it, but Spence came up with a huge block to force overtime.
The Jays missed all five of their field-goal attempts in the extra session - three of them from beyond the arc - and made just 2-of-4 free throws while Pacific used its high-percentage shots to pull out the victory.
"We do some good things and then we struggle at times," Thompson said. "Over the course of the game, we had some lapses and gave up a lot of offensive rebounds and got beat to a lot of loose balls. That's stuff we need to do to be good."
After Jefferson City won the tip in overtime, the Jays missed a 3 and the Indians made a layup. That was enough to alter the entire course of the extra four minutes.
"We got down and we had to come trap and they hit us on that," Thompson said. "But that's a gamble you've got to take."
Anunoby had a great game for the Jays, racking up 23 points and seven rebounds, while Spence made all five of his shots and both of his free throws to end up with 12 points. He also led the Jays with eight rebounds.
But those two were the only Jays to reach double figures in scoring.
"We need to have a little more balance," Thompson said. "We've only had three guys in double figures once this year and only two guys in double figures maybe four times. When we're one-dimensional, we're very beatable, and we became that way (Sunday).
"Pacific was the opposite, they had some guys step up and knock down some huge shots."
VanLeer's freshman brother, Cameron, chipped in with 13 points for the Indians (10-3), who are ranked ninth in the state in Class 4.
Jefferson City returns to action Tuesday when it plays Helias at Rackers Fieldhouse.