Far Eastern University clawed back from an early deficit, stunning Adamson University in a low-scoring affair, 49-46, to put itself in the thick of things in the UAAP Season 86 Men's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

With the game knotted at 43-all with two minutes left, L-Jay Gonzales, the hero of the Tamaraws against defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles last Saturday, carried his team on his back by scoring on back-to-back buckets.

Joem Sabandal brought Adamson within a point thanks to a three-point shot with less than 12 seconds left.

Royce Alforque calmly sank two clutch free throws to give the Tamaraws their second consecutive win to rise to 2-4 and tie neighbor University of the East at the sixth to seventh spots.

“Yung dalawang sunod-sunod na tira ko, wala akong ibang nasa isip kundi mashoot yung bola. Yun lang naman lagi ang mindset ko,” said Gonzales, who suffered a bad fall with over four minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Gonzales led FEU anew with 13 points and nine rebounds. Patrick Sleat followed his lead with 10 points.

Limited to a mere eight points after the first 10 minutes of action, the Tamaraws dug deep behind the combined efforts of  Xyrus Torres, Patrick Sleat, LJay Gonzales, and Aeron Bagunu, eventually getting their first taste of the lead with over a minute left in the third period, 32-30.

It set up the cardiac final frame.

“Yung mga ganitong game kailangan na kailangan namin kasi experience ito para sa mga players namin,” said first-year Tamaraws head coach Denok Miranda. “Nung first quarter, hindi kami makadepensa. Hats off ako sa mga players ko na grabe yung tinrabaho sa depensa mula second hanggang fourth quarter.”

The Tamaraws’ defense was key in the come-from-behind win as they forced the Soaring Falcons to commit 23 turnovers, which led to 13 points for them. However, Adamson ruled the rebounds with 56 compared to FEU’s 41.

FEU will look to end the round with a hattrick of victories when it faces University of Santo Tomas at 1 p.m. this Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

On the other hand, Joshua Yerro led Adamson with 12 points while Cedrick Manzano had nine points and 10 rebounds. Ojarikre seized 14 rebounds along with his two points.

The Soaring Falcons, who fell to 3-3, are tied with Ateneo de Manila University at the four to fifth spots.

Adamson will next play National University this Saturday at 12 p.m. at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Scores:

FEU 49 – Gonzales 13, Sleat 10, Alforque 8, Torres 6, Bautista 5, Bagunu 3, Faty 2, Ona 2, Tempra 0, Competente 0.

AdU 46 – Yerro 12, Manzano 9, Magbuhos 7, Sabandal 6, Calisay 4, Colonia 3, Ojarikre 2, Hanapi 2, Ramos 1, Montebon 0, Barasi 0, Erolon 0, Barcelona 0.

Quarterscores: 8-21, 22-27, 32-34, 49-46.