Guaynabo & Aguada eke out wins in BSN.

Jalen Crutcher (20) had 21 points and 10 assists, but Ponce came up short against host Aguada on Wednesday night.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Mets of Guaynabo and the Santeros of Aguada emerged as winners on Wednesday night in a pair of Superior National Basketball league (BSN by its initials in Spanish) games that went down to the wire.

At Fernando “Rube” Hernández Coliseum in Gurabo, the Mets overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat the Osos of Manatí at the buzzer, 88-87.

Manatí, behind the hot hand of Kristian Doolittle, closed the first quarter leading 23-18 and extended the advantage to 49-33 after two periods.

However, the Mets responded in the third quarter with Brandon Knight executing from long range and Ysmael Romero having his way in the paint as the visitors narrowed the deficit to nine points, 66-57.

Guaynabo kept pulling closer in the fourth quarter. Jaysean Paige drained a 3-pointer with 1:06 remaining to cut the deficit to a point (85-84), and 42 seconds later Paige converted two free throws to give the Mets the lead, 86-85, with 24 seconds left. Manatí regained the lead on a pair of made free throws by Raymond Cintrón Jr. with five seconds left on the clock, but on the final possession, Ysmael Romero sealed the win for Guaynabo with a put-back at the buzzer on a missed jumper by Torrey Craig.

Romero, Paige and Knight finished with 22, 21 and 19 points, respectively, for Guaynabo (9-9). Devin Williams added 15 points and Paige had nine assists.

Doolittle led Manatí (7-12) with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. Kendric Davis had 20 points and 10 assists, Tyler Davis had 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Tyquan Rolon scored 15 points off the bench. 

At Ismael “Chavalillo” Delgado Coliseum in Aguada, meanwhile, the Santeros defeated the Leones of Ponce, 99-97, in a game that was close throughout.

Ponce began the fourth period with a 76-72 lead, but Aguada found the answers in the most critical moments of the final frame to go up by two points on a pair of free throws by Rigoberto Mendoza with five seconds remaining.

A steal by Mendoza, whose 28 points led all scorers, on Ponce’s final possession sealed the victory for the home team.

Jacob Wiley scored 23 points for Aguada (10-8), and Manuel Camper added 15.

Jalen Crutcher and Jordan Murphy scored 21 points apiece for Ponce (7-12). Brady Manek scored 20 points, and Crutcher handed out 10 assists.