Panthers tip Ramblers in double overtime, 72-69
CEDAR FALLS — It took two overtimes, but the Panthers got it done.
Despite the final 30 seconds of their double-overtime game against Loyola looking like that of the second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Texas A&M last March, the Panthers (7-11, 2-5 MVC) held on for a 72-69 win at the McLeod Center on Wednesday night.
Jeremy Morgan, who hit two free throws with 8.6 seconds left to send the game to overtime, finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, to help the Panthers their second overtime win this season.
Bennett Koch was the leader for the Panthers, who tallied his second-straight 21-point game in the win Wednesday night. Loyola (13-7, 3-4 MVC) was led by Donte Ingram’s 19 points and nine rebounds.
The Panthers held an eight-point lead with 16.5 seconds remaining in the second overtime, when the Ramblers converted on a four-point play to pull within four points. Morgan hit 1-of-2 free throws before Ingram went coast-to-coast and make it a one-possession game.
Jordan Ashton, a former Iowa State and Kirkwood Community College player, finished with 13 points, but made a costly turnover with 1.4 seconds left inbounding the ball. Milton Doyle took the final shot, but it didn’t go, avoiding a third overtime and a Northern Iowa loss.
Iowa State transfer Clayton Custer posted 16 points and had three assists, while making 4-of-6 3-pointers.
Northern Iowa 72, Loyola 69, 2OT
LOYOLA (13-7) — Kirby 0-0 0-0 0, Doyle 3-17 5-5 12, Custer 6-9 0-0 16, Richardson 3-8 0-0 8, Ingram 7-15 0-0 19, Jackson 5-7 0-1 10, Granic 0-0 1-2 1, Satterwhite 0-0 0-0 0, Skokna 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 1-1 0-0 3. TOTALS 25-58 6-8 69.
N. IOWA (7-11) — Carlson 1-9 0-0 2, Koch 3-10 15-17 21, McCloud 1-3 0-0 2, Ashton 4-7 2-4 13, Morgan 5-10 5-6 17, McDonnell 6-8 1-1 13, Friedman 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Haldeman 1-6 1-2 4. TOTALS 21-55 24-30 72.
Halftime–Loyola 28-24. End Of Regulation–Tied 53. End Of 1st Overtime–Tied 58. 3-Point Goals–Loyola 13-32 (Ingram 5-11, Custer 4-6, Richardson 2-6, Smith 1-1, Doyle 1-7, Skokna 0-1), UNI 6-20 (Ashton 3-5, Morgan 2-5, Haldeman 1-4, Brown 0-1, McCloud 0-1, Carlson 0-4). Fouled Out–Jackson. Rebounds–Loyola 31 (Ingram 9), UNI 34 (Koch 9). Assists–Loyola 15 (Doyle 6), UNI 11 (Carlson 5). Total Fouls–Loyola 25, UNI 16. A–3,934.