The boys' varsity basketball team trailed by 11 points(77-66) to Roxbury Latin on Wednesday with only 2 1/2 minutes to go. Through efforts made by the entire team however, the Zebras rallied in the final moments of the game to defeat their opponent by a score of 83-80.

On the previous possession for RL, it appeared the MX defense was going to get the stop they needed to try to get back in the game, but point guard Patrick Benzan hit a desperate fade-away three as the shot clock expired to extend the lead back to the double digits. Senior point guard and co-captain Aaron Swenson was fouled at the other end to cut the lead back to nine. As a result of Swenson's foul, classmate Hasani Figueroa entered the game to create havoc in the defensive end and the comeback was on.

An RL missed shot resulted in a breakaway layup for junior Hamza Usman but the ball caromed off the rim right to Figueroa for the tip-in to cut the deficit to 77-70.  A crucial fifth foul to Benzan(37 points) and a technical foul on the RL possession gave MX four free throws but they were only able to convert on one attempt.  MX retained possession because the technical foul and a driving Figueroa found Usman for a deep three-point basket to get it down to a one possession game.  RL converted one of two free throws on their possession before MX answered with another three-point field goal-this time, Swenson found junior Austin Perry (seven points) to get within one point of RL.  Now with 52 seconds remaining, Romar Shukla (27 points) hit a pull-up jump shot for RL to take back the lead. A deep three-point attempt by Swenson was off the mark, but teammate Usman recovered the rebound to maintain possession. After being fouled, Usam then converted on both free throws to keep the Zebras in the game.  MX fouled RL with their pressing defense but thankfully RL was unable to convert the front end of the one and one.  Swenson raced down the court and made the remarkable game-winning basket as he was knocked to the ground with 20 seconds to go in the game.  RL turned the ball over vs the MX press and was forced to foul Swenson yet again.  Swenson made two free throws to give MX a three-point lead with 12 seconds remaining.  RL finished the game with a desperate three attempt but Perry was able to secure the rebound, thus cementing the victory for Middlesex.

Swenson finished with a game high 41 points-including an impressive 9-12 shooting and 20-24 from the free throw line-  while Usman finished with 14 points.  Junior Austin Dorsey-making his first Middlesex start- had nine points. Topping off the scoring for the afternoon, senior Pete Beatty had seven points and eight rebounds. 

Middlesex now stands with a 9-3 record and will be in action at Pingree (11-2) at 5:00pm Friday and will return to home on Wednesday vs Brooks at 4:00pm.