In a game that seesawed back and forth all night, the visiting Kingwood Christian Lions barely survived a last second bucket by Morgan’s Coal Brown to take a 38-37 victory.

Brown drove inside with time running out, went up between three Lions’ defenders for the shot, but the referees ruled time had expired.

“In spite of all the theatrics at the end, it’s rebounding that cost us this game,” said Morgan’s first-year head coach Eli Jackson. “We told them at halftime that rebounding was going to win or lose the game for us. It’s a tough way to lose.”

The Senators (6-12) trailed at halftime 22-20 but outscored the Lions 12-7 in the third quarter behind the inside play of Heath Brantley.

But the Lions rebounded with 1:30 on the clock after Madison Webb grabbed a board after a missed shot under the basket and got the put back to give Kingwood a 38-37 lead.

The Senators fouled furiously in the final minute to put Kingwood in the bonus and send them to the foul line, but the Lions couldn’t connect on several attempts setting up Brown’s desperation attempt as the clock expired.

Johna Smith, who also coached the Kingwood girls to victory against the Lady Senators, said she only asked her boys to do one thing — believe.

“We replaced our (boy’s) coach Tuesday night and I told them I needed them to be perfect and to just buy in,” she said. “I asked them to believe and not get out-hustled. We just did what we had to do to win.”

Forrest Hughes led Morgan with nine points. Heath Brantley scored eight points.

Brandon Bowen led Kingwood with 12-points; Webb scored 11 points and Daniel Fillingim chipped in 10 points.

Morgan travels to Alabaster Monday for a rematch with the Lions