Kele Mkpado scored a buzzer-beating layup to lift San Marcos to a 42-40 non-league boys basketball win over Workman in the MLK Classic at the Thunderhut on Monday.
Kele Mkpado scores the winning basket for San Marcos just before the buzzer.
The Royals battled back from a 35-29 deficit in the fourth quarter. They took a 40-37 lead on a Ryan McCarthy 3-pointer with 35 seconds left. But Workman answered with a game-tying 3-pointer by Joshua Rodriguez with eight seconds to go.
Scott Everman quickly dribbled down the floor and found Mkpado for the layup as the buzzer went off.
“Workman played a very good game, and they are a tough team,” San Marcos coach Landon Boucher said. “They had us on the ropes in the fourth quarter. If it wasn’t for our team defense igniting in the last five minutes, they may have come out of the Thunderhut with a win.”
San Marcos improves to 16-4 while Workman falls to 11-7.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game,” Boucher said. “Workman has size and skill. It was good to see our guys keep their composure after No. 22 drilled a three to tie the game, and come back to score in the last eight seconds.”
The Royals return to Channel League play on Friday when they host Dos Pueblos.
