On a night where 3-point shots stubbornly wouldn't fall for the Hope College men's basketball team, the last long-range attempt joyfully ripped through the net.

Junior center Gabe Quillan swished a go-ahead 3 from the wing with 26 seconds remaining, sending the Flying Dutchmen to a 76-73 overtime victory against Hanover College (Ind.) on Tuesday at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Hanover could not get a tying shot off before the final buzzer, and Hope celebrated a 4-0 start to the season.
 

"I think Hanover out-executed us in some really important parts. That being said, I loved our demeanor, we never doubted and we never stopped playing. It was tough when you shoot the poorly from the arc, it makes it really challenging," said head coach Greg Mitchell. 

The Flying Dutchmen survived Hanover's determined non-league effort despite shooting a season-low 13.0% from the 3-point line (3-23) and 36.4% from the field (24-66).

Quillan's (Ada, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) second 3-point attempt of the game and first make came after sophomore guard Marcus Wourman (East Lansing, Michigan / East Lansing) rebounded his own missed 3-point attempt.

"Gabe Quillan hits a tremendously huge shot for us on a night where it's just not going in from the arc, he's grown so much and he's definitely our guy," said Mitchell. "I thought he was really good against the zone, against the man-to-man, I thought he rebounded the ball really well and then he had to guard ball screens, and for a big guy that is a lot of work."

The Flying Dutchmen trailed 73-71 as the end of the five-minute overtime period neared. The go-ahead basket was the sixth lead change of overtime.

Two Wourman free throws with less than two seconds remaining forced Hanover (3-3) to attempt a desperation 3-pointer. 

The Panthers, who forced overtime by overcoming deficits of 16 points during the first half and nine during the second half, went the distance of the court but could not muster one more clutch shot.

"It's easy to get down and think 'woe is me'. You have the lead for 95% of the game but we always talk that it's a 40-minute game, you have to play till you cross the tape as a runner, and we have to play till the final buzzer."

Quillan finished with game-highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds.

Despite playing 42 of 45 possible minutes, Quillan shot 61.5% from the field (8-13) and 87.5% from the free-throw line (7-8).

Wourman chipped in a season-high 18 points. 

Senior guard Clayton Dykhouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) scored 14 points.

Hanover received 21 points from Max Greenamoyer and 12 from Ty Houston. The Panthers shot 41.5% from the field (27-65).

Hope's next game is Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.