Box Score The loudest crowd of the year. The most exciting game of the year. The biggest win of the year. Thursday night at ABAC's Gressette Gym, the basketball Stallions delivered all of the above in their final home appearance of the year.
 
Coach Calvin Sinkfield's Stallions took a slugfest into overtime before dropping Southern States Athletic Conference rival Brewton-Parker 109-100. With the win, the Stallions could cause a three-way tie for the fifth spot in the SSAC East with the Barons and Point University if they their season finale Saturday. But the Barons hold an edge in that tiebreaker and will claim the fifth and final playoff spot regardless.
 
Thursday night, none of that mattered. For a young team charged with restarting a program which was dormant for the last 16 years, the win was a tangible reward for a season of maturity. In the teams' first matchup of the year on Dec. 17 in Mt. Vernon, Brewton-Parker manhandled ABAC 97-74. But Thursday night's Stallions would not be denied.
 
"It feels good," Sinkfield said between pats on the back and post-game hugs. "It wasn't easy but I'm proud of my guys."
 
In the second half, ABAC held a 10-point lead only to watch it evaporate, a familiar scenario that has plagued the Stallions all season. The Barons led 87-83 with 1:46 left in regulation before junior Xavier Boyd dropped a jumper with 1:30 left. Then, with just under a minute left, junior Nate Mobley scored on a putback of a T.J. Smith miss to tie the game. After that, each team had one possession but neither could hit a game-winner and the Stallons were in their first overtime of the season.
 
In the extra five minutes, ABAC dominated. A jumper by smith, two Bryce Wimberly free throws, and a layup from Matthew Mairena gave ABAC a 93-87 lead. They kept the defensive pressure on the Barons and, most importantly, did not led the Barons' Dre Burroughs win the game. The senior guard had a monster night, scoring 42 points and putting his team on his back for much of the game. The Stallions' overtime lead grew to 11 points with just over a minute left to play and that was enough cushion to secure the win.
 
The Stallions shot 54 percent from the field, including 11 3-pointers, with only 13 turnovers. And it was a balanced effort with six players scoring in double figures, led by Smith with 25, 21 from Mairena, and Boyd's 20. Mobley chipped in 12 to go with a team-high 11 rebounds while Matas Aidietis also scored 12 and Wimberly added 10.
 
Now 6-19 overall and 2-15 in the league, the Stallions will wrap up the season in Thomasville Saturday with a 2 p.m. game against the Nighthawks from Thomas University.