It was a big momentum change.
Losing the lead with 14:46 left in the third (when JMU tied the game with half a game left) was a big momentum shift compared to losing the lead with 12:33 left in the fourth which (if no other scoring had changed) is what would have happened if UL kicks the end of half field goal.
The game is 60 minutes no reason to try and win it in the first half.
jmo