DENVER – Seniors playing big on Senior Night.
 
Yeah, it's a thing.
 
MSU Denver's Tyrei Randall and Chandler Bevans, playing their final game at the Auraria Event Center on Saturday night, made big play after big play as the Roadrunners overcame a nine-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation to rally for a 75-73 overtime victory against Colorado Christian.
 
The key basket?
 
It was Bevans' 3-pointer from the corner with 1:16 left in the extra session, which lifted MSU Denver's lead from one point to four at 73-69.
 
"I was almost in tears when Chandler hit the 3, because it was so poetic for him to be able to make that shot that kind of sealed the deal for us," MSU Denver coach Dan Ficke said. "I'm just so happy for him to get that opportunity and knock it down. I knew when he got it that it was going in."
 
Poetic because of Bevans' hard work and dedication.
 
"Whatever it takes to win," Bevans said. "I didn't care if I played 40 minutes or five. Coming out with a win made my night."
 
The seniors did the heavy lifting down the stretch.
 
Bevans hit two free throws to get the Roadrunners within 57-55 with 3:44 left, part of quick 8-1 run that reeled in the Cougars.
 
Then Randall scored on a jumper in the lane, putting the deficit back at two, 59-57, with 2:07 to go. Randall hit two free throws to tie it 59-59 with 1:44 left in regulation. Bevans hit a free throw to give the Roadrunners a 60-59 lead with 54 seconds left. Then Randall hit two free throws for a 62-59 lead with 24 seconds left – that's nine straight points by seniors.
 
"I was just trying to step up and be the leader that my coach has asked me to be all year," Randall said.
 
Seniors being seniors on Senior Night?
 
"Absolutely," Ficke said.
 
Colorado Christian hit a 3 to force overtime but, after initially falling behind in the extra period, Caleb McGill's thunderous dunk put the Roadrunners ahead to stay a 70-69 with 2:03 left, and Bevans connected on his critical 3 on the next possession.
 
The 3 is a secret weapon for Bevans, who has attempted only five all season. But he's made four of them.
 
"Every time I shoot a 3, I feel like it's going in," Bevans said. "I don't really take that many, but when I do it's a good one."
 
Randall and Quave Propst-Allison each made one of two free throws for the 75-73 lead, and the Roadrunners survived as Colorado Christian missed a couple of pretty good looks from 3 in the closing seconds.
 
"That's the story of our season – nothing is ever easy," Ficke said. "We don't like to go ahead by too much. We like to fall behind and fight our way back. I'm proud of our guys.
 
"I thought we were playing a little outside of ourselves in the first half, but in the second half – led by Tyrei and Chandler – we came back and played the way we're capable and played our style of basketball. I loved our guys' toughness in the second half and in overtime."
 
Both players were honored in a pre-game ceremony.
 
"A lot of emotions," Randall said. "I did my best not to cry. I'll probably cry a little later. But there's not a better feeling than being able to go out with your family."
 
Said Bevans: "All that is fun and I appreciate it. It's a little sad because I love it here and I love these guys. I'll be a fan long after I'm out of here."
 
Randall scored 25 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Bevans had 10 points and nine rebounds. McGill had 13 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots, and Propst-Allison had 12 points and five assists.
 
MSU Denver made all four of its overtime field goal attempts and was 18 of 23 – for a ridiculous 78.3 percent – from the field after halftime.
 
"We figured out that they really couldn't guard us in ball screens and couldn't guard us inside," Ficke said. "Quave stepped up, especially in the overtime, and made the right play every time.
 
"And Tyrei was in refuse-to-lose mode. He made great plays, great decisions, made free throws – and our team has been in that scenario so many times this year, we never feel like we're out of it because we're capable of making runs."
 
MSU Denver (11-15 overall) continues to cling to its postseason hopes as it improved to 8-12 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Roadrunners are in a five-way tie for seventh place with two games left in the regular season. The top eight teams advance to the RMAC Tournament.
 
"It's about locking in, doing the work and being prepared for next weekend, getting two big wins," Bevans said.