GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands — In an electrifying finish, Elijah Strong sank a three-pointer with just four seconds remaining in overtime, propelling Boston College to a thrilling 76-74 victory over Missouri State. This win secured the Eagles’ spot in the championship game of the Cayman Islands Classic, where they will square off against Boise State, who narrowly defeated South Dakota State 83-82 earlier in the day.

The game took an intense turn as Missouri State initially gained a 70-64 advantage in overtime. Key contributions from Dez White, who made two free throws and a jumper, alongside a jumper from Michael Osei-Bonsu, seemed to put the Bears in control. However, the Eagles rallied back with a stunning sequence that saw Jayden Hastings slam dunk followed by Strong’s crucial three-pointer, narrowing the deficit to just one point, 70-69. The back-and-forth continued with Osei-Bonsu sinking two free throws; however, Strong responded with a layup and Donald Hand Jr. added two more free throws to bring Boston College ahead 73-72 with 29 seconds remaining.

As the clock wound down, Osei-Bonsu managed to score another jumper with 14 seconds left, briefly putting Missouri State back in the lead. But Strong was not done yet; he struck again, making his second three-pointer of overtime. Missouri State had one last chance to tie the game, but White’s three-point attempt fell short, allowing the Eagles to secure the win with a defensive rebound.

During the crucial moments of regulation, Hand had previously made a three-pointer with 14 seconds left, equalizing the score at 64-64 and forcing the extra period. Hand was a standout player for Boston College, scoring 18 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Fred Payne matched his scoring total, going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc off the bench. Strong contributed significantly as well, hitting three out of five from three-point range for a total of 13 points, along with four rebounds and two assists.

On the other hand, Missouri State’s White led all scorers with an impressive 25 points, hitting 12 of 13 from the free-throw line. Jalen Hampton also helped the Bears contribute a double-double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Osei-Bonsu finished with 13 points, adding seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

Looking ahead, Missouri State will face South Dakota State in the third-place game set for Tuesday, while Boston College prepares for their championship showdown against Boise State.