VAN HORNE - Tyler Gunderson poured in 26 points for the Marion Indians Tuesday night in their Wamac Conference ballgame at Benton Community.

As it turned out, the Indians might have been better off he had scored only 25.

Gunderson went to the foul line with his team trailing, 64-61, with 3.2 seconds left in overtime. He made his first throw but was supposed to miss the second shot on purpose to give his teammates a chance to grab an offensive rebound and tie the game.

Instead, Gunderson accidentally swished his second foul shot and the Indians never touched the ball again before the buzzer sounded.

Benton pulled off the mild upset, 64-63.

"That's the way it goes sometimes," said Gunderson. "The ball doesn't always bounce your way."

Marion fell to 6-6 overall and 5-6 in the Wamac, including a 4-3 record in the West Division. Benton Community raised its marks to 5-8 overall and 4-4 in the West.

The short-handed Indians needed a big game from Gunderson. Brenden Landuyt and Trevor Hardman did not play due to a violation of team rules and Daly Quinn fouled out with 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter after scoring 16 points.

"That doesn't help," said Marion Coach Mike Manderscheid.

Andrew Davis, a 6-foot-6 senior, also watched the game from the bench for Marion. Davis broke his leg during the football season in November and has not played all season.

The Indians used only seven players in the contest.

Gunderson did not practice Monday due to illness, but he played the entire 36-minute game except for a short breather in the first half.

"That's okay," he said. "I like to play. I felt all right."

Craig Engle gave Marion a 59-56 lead with 10 seconds left in the fourth period with two foul shots, but Benton senior Mitchell Moser hit a long 3-pointer from about 24 feet with three seconds remaining to tie the game 59-59.

Gunderson shot the ball at the buzzer and thought he was fouled, but nothing was called and they went to overtime.

Marion could have fouled Moser in the final seconds of the fourth period and sent him to the charity stripe with the Bobcats facing a three-point deficit, but Manderscheid elected to take his chances and Moser made a clutch shot.

Benton Community Coach Larry Carlson was faced with a similar situation in the final seconds of overtime with a three-point lead. Moser bumped Gunderson on purpose a long way from the basket and gave him two free throws, but it had a happy ending for the Bobcats.

Gunderson had tied the game 61-61 with a basket with 25 seconds left in overtime, but Moser hit a reverse layup, got fouled and finished a three-point play to give Benton Community a 64-61 lead with 5.3 seconds remaining.

Moser drilled four 3-pointers and netted 18 points for the home team. Noah Fisher scored 13 points for the Bobcats.

Gunderson, a 6-foot senior, was averaging 11.1 when the night began. He scored most of his points near the basket and Manderscheid appreciated the effort.

"He was gone last night, sick. So he wasn't at practice," the coach said. "But he came out and played hard. I think it means something to him."

MARION (63): Schnieders 2 0-0 5, Cannoy 0 3-4 3, Quinn 5 2-2 16, Engle 2 2-2 7, Gunderson 9 8-11 26, Frazier 2 2-3 6, Buckley 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 17-22 63.

BENTON COMMUNITY (64): Touro 2 2-2 8, Hopkins 2 1-3 5, Twedt 3 0-0 6, Fisher 6 1-3 13, Frese 3 0-0 9, Moser 6 2-3 18, Thompson 1 0-0 2, Petrzelka 1 1-2 3. Totals 24 7-13 64.

Halftime - Marion 30, Benton Community 29. 3-point goals - Marion 6 (Quinn 4, Schnieders 1, Engle 1), Benton Community 9 (Moser 4, Frese 3, Touro 2). Fouled out - Quinn.