Shepherd University (W.Va.)'s game against West Virginia State on Saturday was close throughout.
Neither team led by more than two points for most of the second half. Seemingly each time a team scored, the other had an answer. There were six lead changes, eight ties, and Shepherd led by as little as one in the final 25 seconds before holding on for a 73-68 victory.
Two of the primary difference-makers for Shepherd down the stretch?
South Carroll graduates and brothers Ryan and Gavin McTavish.
Ryan McTavish scored 12 of his team-high 24 points during the second half and hit a 3-pointer — off an assist from Gavin McTavish — to put the Rams up, 63-59, with 3:13 remaining.
Gavin McTavish, meanwhile, scored the final four points of the game, helping Shepherd pull away. He hit two clutch free throws with the Rams clinging to a 69-68 lead with 16 seconds remaining and later converted two more free throws to put the game out of reach.
This is what both hoped for when they signed with Shepherd last year. Both are happy, and both are contributing for a Rams team that improved to 11-7 with Saturday's win.
"It's awesome being back out there with Ryan," said Gavin McTavish, who is back playing with his brother for the first time since the two led South Carroll to county and regional championships in 2011. "It's a great feeling. We got a little bit over the summer when we were playing summer leagues together and then we finally got to school playing pickup.
"And when the season started, it was just awesome. It's just a great feeling being able to play with him again."
A junior, Ryan McTavish began his college career at Presbyterian and was a starter for the Blue Hose before leaving the program after the 2012-13 season.
After being out of competitive basketball last season,he signed with Shepherd and is third on the Rams in scoring, averaging 10.8 points per game. A small forward, he also averages 4.1 rebounds per game.
"Just really ecstatic to have Ryan in our program," Shepherd coach Justin Namolik said. "He's just a very good small forward for us. He's athletic enough to guard some of the good small forwards in our league. He's shooting the ball well from 3 right now.
"He's got a really good pull-up. He can really get his shot off whenever he wants. So he's really helped us scoring the ball. He's really helped us defensively, and he rebounds well for a small forward. He's done a lot of good things for us."
Ryan McTavish has started all 18 of Shepherd's games, is shooting a team-best 44.2 percent on 3-pointers and has scored 17 points or more three times, including twice during the last four games.
"I was definitely rusty. The first game, it was my first game in probably a year and a half. So I was trying to get back in the flow of things," said Ryan McTavish, who averaged 20.9 points per game as a senior at South Carroll. "It was hard. It was a big change going from one team to another. It was all new play sets and a whole new idea of defense and everything.
"Everything was different, so I had to settle myself in and just try to get myself in a flow. And once I got with the flow and started understanding things, I feel like since then things are going good."
Gavin McTavish is one of Shepherd's top reserves, playing 22.3 minutes per game as a backup forward. A freshman, he is averaging 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
"I think most games, both of us are doing really well contributing — him on scoring side and me on the rebounding side," Gavin McTavish said. "He's doing more scoring for us, and I'm basically helping us with defense, stops and rebounds pretty much. So I think most games, both of us are doing pretty well contributing."
The Rams (11-7, 6-6 conference) are sixth in the Mountain East Conference at the Division II level.
"Ryan and I talk everyday about basketball and school and stuff," Gavin McTavish said. "Right now, we're not really talking about the future or looking forward. We're trying to get the best that we can right now, improve in the conference, and I guess an accomplishment for this year would be making the NCAA tournament.
"I think that's every college athlete's dream to make the NCAA tournament and have the chance to win a national championship."