NASHVILLE, Tenn - The Mid-Continent University men's basketball team has made great strides during the 2012-13 campaign on the road, closing out several close games to pick up some key road wins. On Tuesday night, however, the Cougars efforts to protect a lead later were frustrated by an old TranSouth rival.

Mid-Continent (15-9) held a five point lead with under four minutes to play in regulation time, but they were unable to protect that edge down the stretch, as the Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans (8-12) - a team in transition to NCAA Division II play, came back to claim a 74-71 win in overtime.

Mid-Continent opened the game by scoring six straight points, but the Trojans came back with a 7-0 run to claim the lead right back. With the game tied at 10, Mid-Continent pieced together another 7-0 run to claim their largest lead of the game at 17-10 with 13:52 left in the first half. Trevecca whittled away at the deficit, reclaiming the lead at 21-19 with under 10 minutes left in the half, but Charles Peden immediately put the Cougars back on top 22-21 with a conventional 3-point play. As the clock ticked towards intermission, the game remained close until Trevecca used an 8-0 blits to turn a 26-26 tie into a 34-26 lead with 2:24 left in the period. Mid-Continent had opportunities to bring the game close in the waning moments of the half, but managed only to bring the margin to 34-30 by the break.

Mid-Continent scored the first basket of the second period, but Trevecca scored the next seven points, taking a 41-32 lead - the largest of the game for either team. Mid-Continent battled back, though, eventually knotting the score at 45 with 12:12 left in regulation. Late in the period, Mid-Continent appeared to take control, piecing together a mini-run of 6-1 to claim the lead 60-55 with 3:00 left on the clock. Trevecca, though was not done, as the Trojans scored five straight points to tie the score at 60 with 33.4 seconds left. Mid-Continent got an opportunity to take the win in regulation, but a leaning jumper from Gavin Scott didn't fall, Lee Ames was unable to tip it in, and Charles Peden's buzzer beating jumper went just long, and the game went into the extra session. Trevecca jumped out early, scoring the first five points of overtime, and eventually building an eight-point lead that would prove insurmountable. Ames connected on a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left in the extra period to pull Mid-Continent to within two, but the Cougars got no closer. Antonio Davis had a shot to tie the score from the left wing with 15 seconds to play, but it went Begging, and the Trojans held on for the 74-71 win.

Davis led all scorers with 20 points in the game, grabbing seven rebounds as well, and Gavin Scott added 10 points, nine boards and six assists. Charles Peden joined them in double figures, posting a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. As a team, the Cougars made 28-of-64 (43.8%) shots, but only made 2-of-13 (15.4%) 3-pointers on the night. At the foul line, the Cougars were 13-for-17 (76.5%).

The Cougars will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, jumping back into TranSouth play and hosting the Blue Mountain College Toppers (7-15, 0-6). Saturday will also feature Senior Day Activities, with the ceremony taking place between the women's and men's games. Tip-off for the men's contest is slated for 4 p.m.