MARYVILLE, Mo. — The University of Nebraska-Kearney escaped Bearcat Arena Thursday with a 95-89 double-overtime victory over the Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team.
The Lopers evened their season mark at 9-9 and moved to 2-5 in MIAA play. Northwest dropped its third straight game to fall to 9-9 overall and 2-5 in league action.
The Bearcats rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit to force overtime and then had a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds left in the first extra session to win the game. However, UNK was able to out-score Northwest in the second overtime, 10-4, to claim the six-point road triumph.
Northwest Missouri State opened play with a steady offensive performance, highlighted by
Larenz Walters, who contributed a crucial 3-pointer at the 9:00 mark to regain the lead at 24–21. Walters continued to impact the game with a defensive rebound followed by another 3-pointer, helping the Bearcats maintain a competitive edge. Despite their efforts, the team faced a resilient attack from Nebraska-Kearney, who managed to establish a narrow lead. The half concluded with Northwest trailing 42–38.
Northwest staged a late comeback in the second half, highlighted by a crucial tip-in by
Jack Ratigan with 1.1 seconds left to force overtime at 77–77. Despite trailing for much of the half, they capitalized on turnovers and maintained pressure with effective fast-break opportunities, led by Walters and
Royce Williams. Northwest outscored Nebraska-Kearney 39–35 in the half, and regulation concluded with a 77–77 draw.
In the first overtime, Northwest faced a tight contest with Nebraska-Kearney, with neither team able to pull away significantly. Williams' 3-pointer at 2:46 was a key moment, cutting Nebraska-Kearney's lead to three points. Ratigan contributed with a defensive rebound and an assist, leading to Walters' fastbreak layup at 1:31, tying the score at 85. Northwest was poised to claim the win when
Robby Garcia was fouled with 1.2 seconds left and was awarded two free throws. The first one missed short and the second one spun out after it looked like it had gone in, to send the game to a second overtime.
The Bearcats faced a challenging second overtime, with Nebraska-Kearney taking control midway through. A key moment occurred at 3:13 when Kendrick Gilbert's layup gave the visitors a crucial lead. Despite defensive efforts, including two blocks by Ratigan, Northwest struggled offensively, converting only one field goal in the frame. Williams made both free throw attempts at 1:21, briefly reducing the deficit. However, Nebraska-Kearney extended its lead with a late 3-pointer and free throws, ultimately securing a 95–89 victory in the final minutes.
Walters scored a career-high 24 points and added eight rebounds, demonstrating his scoring ability.
Aiden Gair contributed 17 points and recorded five assists, showcasing his playmaking skills. Williams collected eight rebounds and tallied five assists, providing support on both ends of the floor. Ratigan posted three blocks and finished with a career-high 17 rebounds, dominating the boards.
In their next game, the Bearcats will host Fort Hays State on Saturday, Jan. 17. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.
