The 12th-ranked Cardinals rallied from a game-long deficit in the closing minutes of regulation to force overtime and pull out a 70-62 win against Angelina College on the road Wednesday night in a Region XIV Conference opener.
First-year coach Marty Levinson's squad turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and used the three-point shooting of Ahamad Bynum to turn the tide. Having trailed 29-26 at the half, the Cardinals saw the deficit increase to seven before finally switching gears.
Bynum hit a pair of clutch three-pointers late in the contest. Phil March also came through from beyond the perimeter to help the Cardinals seal the deal.
Bynum poured in 27 points, hitting 6-of-11 from three-point range. He also handed out five assists.
Aliou Cisse also scored in double digits with 11 points. Cisse was 5-of-8 from the free throw line.
March finished with eight points, including a pair of three-pointers.
The Cardinals improved to 8-2 overall with the win. Angelina fell to 7-2.
Next up for the Cardinals is Jacksonville at 4 p.m. Saturday at Cardinal Gym. Jacksonville is 3-4 going into its conference opener tonight at home versus Navarro.
