Murray leads NKU Norse past UIC in OT, 82-69

Courtesy of NKUNorse.com

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Junior guard Cole Murray tallied 21 points, including six in the decisive overtime frame, to catapult the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team to its second-straight win and third in the last four games with an 82-69 victory over UIC at BB&T Arena Friday night.

Murray shot a sizzling 7-for-8 from the three-point line to tie an NKU program record for highest three-point percentage (87.5) in a game.

Lavone Holland II followed Murray with 17 points after going 8-for-10 from the line. Holland posted a team-best seven assists while Drew McDonald came just shy of a double-double with 18 points and eight boards.

Jalen Billups chipped in 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor.

Billups provided NKU with the early lead in the overtime period when he corralled a missed three from Matt Rosenwinkel and layed it in.

Murray then came through in the clutch with a pair of long-range bombs that eventually pushed the Norse advantage to seven, 75-68, with 1:23 left on the clock. NKU then closed out the game at the free-throw line.

Northern Kentucky held a 34-30 advantage headed into halftime thanks to 17 combined points from McDonald and Billups and 50 percent (13-of-26) shooting from the floor. The Norse defense limited the Flames to 33.3 percent (8-of-24), but was whistled for 13 fouls that led to 14 points at the charity stripe for UIC.

UIC opened the second half with a 15-4 run to put NKU in a seven-point hole, but the Norse battled and eventually went on a 9-2 run to pull even at 49.

After the Flames pushed back in front by three, the Norse used the three-point line to pull ahead. Three treys in a span of 3:32 helped NKU grab a 65-61 advantage.

Several miscues by NKU over the next three minutes opened the door for UIC to even the score and set up a trip to overtime knotted at 65.

A home meeting with Valparaiso awaits Northern Kentucky on Sunday. The Crusaders are receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at BB&T Arena.

Norse Notes

• Over the last two games, McDonald has registered 36 points and 19 rebounds.
• Garnett chipped in nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 from the line.
• Murray’s three-point percentage improves to 45.4 percent on the season.