Osos top Leones, Santeros beat Piratas in double-OT in BSN.

Isaiah Hicks led Ponce with 19 points in a losing effort.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Osos of Manatí and the Santeros of Aguada were winners in a pair of Superior National Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) games on Sunday night.

At Juan Aubín Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manatí, the Osos defeated the Leones of Ponce 105-94.

Trailing 86-61 going into the fourth quarter, Ponce mounted a spirited rally in which they outscored the hosts 33-19 in the final frame, but it was too little too late. After the Leones clawed back to within 10 points, Chris Ortiz scored five consecutive points to extend Manatí’s lead to 103-88 with 1:37 left on the clock.

Manatí set the pace from the start, scoring 29 points in the first quarter against the visitors’ 17, and headed into halftime with a 57-41 lead before extending what would prove to be an insurmountable advantage after three quarters.

Tyler Davis led the Osos with 21 points, followed by Ortiz with 20, and Ryan Arcidiacono and Tyler Cook with 18 points each. Olumiye Oni flirted with a triple-double, recording 10 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Isaiah Hicks was the standout for the Leones with 19 points, including a three-point play that cut Ponce’s deficit to 10 -- 98-88 -- with 2:31 remaining in the game. Jordan Murphy contributed 16 points, while Jalen Crutcher added 13 in a losing effort.

Meanwhile, at Raymond Dalmau Coliseum in Quebradillas, the Santeros defeated the Piratas of Quebradillas 117-114 in double overtime.

The back-and-forth battle was ultimately decided at the free-throw line, where Aguada outshot Quebradillas 83% (24 for 29) to 52% (15 for 29).

Aguada’s Antonio Ralat was named game MVP with 31 points, while John Brown III added 20 points.

The Piratas’ Emmanuel Mudiay recorded a triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.