Abdullah hit two free throws in regulation to send the game into overtime and then he had a key offensive rebound in overtime to help the Aggies secure a 60-57 win in a thrilling MEAC men’s college basketball game at Corbett Sports Center.

“He is getting better and better, and he was clutch tonight,” said A&T head coach Cy Alexander. “The thing that I like is he made us execute down the stretch.”

Abdullah finished with 14 points, four assists and just one turnover on 5-for-10 shooting from the floor. It was his jumper from the baseline that put the Aggies ahead 51-50 with 49 seconds remaining in regulation. The Aggies (7-21, 4-9 MEAC) then challenged Morgan State (7-21, 5-9 MEAC) on the defensive end, forcing the Bears to take the shot clock down to seven seconds.

MSU guard Emmanuel Matty then tried to launch a pass down court from underneath his own basket. The ball was nearly stolen by Aggies guard James Whitaker before going out of bounds on the opposite end of the floor. The Bears mishap meant they had to start their offense 90 feet from their own basket with five seconds remaining on the shot clock.

Senior MSU point guard Blake Bozeman took the inbound pass, raced up the floor and launched a 35-footer that exploded the net for a 53-51 Bears lead with 12.6 seconds remaining in regulation.

“I just shook my head,” said Alexander about his reaction to Bozeman’s shot. “I thought our defense was as about as good as it can be on that play. He just hit a great shot.”

Alexander reacted by putting the game in the hands of his point guard. During the timeout after Bozeman’s shot, Alexander gave Abdullah the option of driving to the basket and scoring, driving to the basket and dishing or pulling up for the jump shot. Abdullah took the first option and was fouled by Zech Smith with 5.8 seconds left.

Abdullah stepped to the line and knocked down two free throws to tie the game at 53. But it was almost not enough as A&T sophomore Denzel Keyes was called for a foul just over halfcourt with 1.8 seconds remaining. Matey missed the front end of the one-and-one, sending the game into overtime.

Whitaker was able to give A&T a 59-57 lead with 1:13 remaining in OT. On the Bears’ next possession, Matey tried to drive to the basket but lost control of the ball. Beckford dove for the loose ball to give the Aggies possession with 45 seconds remaining.

“Coach was on me earlier because there was a loose ball I didn’t go after,” Beckford said. “I knew when I saw that one; I had to dive on the floor to get it.”

The Aggies were not off the hook yet. The shot clock was still a factor and it ticked down to one before Keyes took a desperation three that misfired. But Abdullah came away with the offensive board and sealed the game at free throw line.

“I’m out there just trying to listen to my coaches,” Abdullah said. “I’m taking what they say to heart and trying to play the game through my eyes and their eyes at the same time.”

Beckford chipped in with 13 points and nine rebounds, putting him three points shy of the 1,000-point mark for his career. Sophomore Khary Doby had 11 points off the bench. Bozeman led the Bears with 25 points on 6-for-13 shooting from 3-point range.

Bozeman and Hampton hit back-to-back threes to close the first half and give the Bears a 26-20 lead. The Bears then opened the first half with two Hampton threes to take a 12-point lead. The Aggies, who had just 20 points in the first half, went on a 17-0 run over the next seven minutes to take a 37-32 lead.

“I think we struggle with playing with a sense of urgency,” said Abdullah. “This time we got down 12 and it just started to click for everybody.”

Abdullah and the Aggies are back in action Saturday, Feb. 28 when they face Florida A&M at 6 p.m., at Corbett. The Aggies will celebrate their lone senior on Senior Day, Bryan Akinkugbe.