December 30, 2001
Grand Forks, ND – The University of North Dakota men's basketball team rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit on Sunday night to defeat Nebraska-Omaha, 92-88 in overtime. The Sioux trailed 41-28 at the break and were still down by seven, 67-60, with 7:45 to play before tying the game at 80 at the end of regulation. In overtime UND scored the first three points and never gave up the lead as it improved to 8-4 on the season, 3-1 in North Central Conference play. Junior Jerome Beasley scored a season-high 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Sioux. Nebraska-Omaha fell to 11-3 with the loss, 2-1 in league play.
After UND jumped out to an early 11-4 lead, the rest of the first half was all UNO as it appeared the Mavericks' speed and outside shooting would be too much for the Sioux to handle. After tying the score at 14 at the 13:25 mark, UNO scored the next nine points to grab a 23-14 lead. A 3-point basket by freshman Mike Johnson brought UND within four, 28-24, with 7:15 to play, but UNO would close the half on a 13-4 run to go to the locker room up 41-28.
The Mavericks shot 51.7 percent for the half and hit 4-of-7 (.571) 3-point shots. UND shot 39.3 percent and had 13 turnovers.
The second half would be a different story as the Sioux came out shooting well and taking better care of the basketball. A free throw by Johnson tied the score at 53 at the 12:09 mark and the score was even at 58 before UNO went on a 9-2 run to take a 67-60 lead with 7:45 to play. It appeared the Mavericks were regaining control, but 3-point baskets by sophomore Jeff Brandt and senior Nigel Jenkins in the next minute pulled UND back within one, 67-66. UNO scored the next three points to take a 70-66 lead with 5:49 to play but Brandt again answered with a 3-point shot to bring the Sioux back within one. Neither team led by more than three points down the stretch.
The Sioux held an 80-78 lead with 1:19 to play after Brandt hit one of two free throws, but UNO's Corey Hahn, who had 14 second-half points, hit a driving layup 15 seconds later to tie the score at 80. Both teams missed opportunities in the final minute to win the game in regulation.
Beasley had 18 second-half points, Brandt 12 and junior Robert Lolar 10 to lead UND's comeback as the Sioux outscored UNO 52-39 in the second half.
A Brandt 3-pointer at the 1:10 mark of overtime gave UND an 89-84 lead, but the Mavericks cut it to 89-88 with 19 seconds to play. UND struggled at the free throw line throughout the game, hitting just 18-of-31 (.581) attempts, but junior Mario Porter calmly hit two free throws with 16 seconds to play to give UND a 91-88 lead. UNO missed a 3-point shot at the other end, Beasley grabbed the rebound and was immediately fouled. He hit one of two to give the Sioux their final margin of victory.
Beasley finished with 33, Brandt 20 and Lolar 11. Johnson and Porter both finished with eight, with Porter finishing with 10 assists.
After shooting just 39.3 percent in the opening half, UND shot 64.3 percent in the second half and 60.0 percent in overtime and finished shooting 52.5 percent for the game, compared to UNO's 49.3 percent. After turning the ball over 13 times in the opening half, UND had just five turnovers the rest of the way, finishing with 18. The Sioux held a slight advantage on the boards, 37-35.
North Dakota will be back in action next Saturday night, Jan. 5, when the Sioux host North Dakota State in a 7 p.m. game at Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks.
Official Basketball Box Score
Nebraska-Omaha vs North Dakota
12/30/01 8 p.m. at Grand Forks, N.D. - Hyslop Sports Center
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VISITORS: Nebraska-Omaha 11-3, 2-1 NCC
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
04 Alvin Mitchell...... * 8-19 2-6 0-2 0 4 4 3 18 4 1 0 0 40
23 Eddie King.......... * 4-7 0-0 5-6 3 2 5 5 13 1 2 1 0 29
42 Tola Dada........... * 1-3 0-0 1-2 0 4 4 4 3 0 1 1 0 25
44 Dan Morrow.......... * 2-7 1-5 0-0 1 3 4 1 5 0 1 0 0 26
55 Adam Wetzel......... * 3-7 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 5 6 1 3 0 1 14
10 Eric Wiebers........ 2-2 1-1 2-2 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 4
12 Seth Nelson......... 4-7 1-2 3-3 0 3 3 1 12 2 2 0 2 25
32 Al Lainio........... 2-3 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 4 0 2 0 0 12
33 Corey Hahn.......... 6-9 0-0 6-8 3 6 9 1 18 2 0 0 1 31
40 James Mills......... 1-3 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 3 2 0 1 0 0 11
50 Micah Kohls......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 8
TEAM................ 1 1
Totals.............. 33-67 5-14 17-23 10 25 35 25 88 10 13 2 4 225
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-29 51.7% 2nd Half: 15-29 51.7% OT: 3-9 33.3% Game: 49.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-7 57.1% 2nd Half: 1-2 50.0% OT: 0-5 0.0% Game: 35.7% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 7-10 70.0% 2nd Half: 8-11 72.7% OT: 2-2 100 % Game: 73.9% 3
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HOME TEAM: North Dakota 8-4, 3-1 NCC
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
05 Mario Porter........ * 3-4 0-0 2-5 0 2 2 2 8 10 4 0 1 37
30 Jeff Brandt......... * 6-11 5-8 3-4 0 3 3 1 20 1 2 0 0 29
32 Ryan Walker......... * 2-3 1-1 0-0 2 1 3 2 5 0 1 0 0 21
42 Josh Johnson........ * 1-2 0-0 0-2 2 3 5 2 2 1 2 1 0 23
54 Jerome Beasley...... * 13-22 0-0 7-10 4 9 13 3 33 0 1 1 0 37
14 Mike Johnson........ 2-4 1-2 3-4 0 0 0 0 8 0 2 0 0 13
20 Jade Jahner......... 0-2 0-1 1-2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 8
24 Robert Lolar........ 4-9 2-5 1-2 0 5 5 5 11 3 2 0 0 21
34 Nigel Jenkins....... 1-4 1-2 1-2 1 3 4 4 4 1 3 0 0 27
40 Jerrid Sebesta...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 9
Team................ 1 1
Totals.............. 32-61 10-19 18-31 10 27 37 20 92 16 18 2 1 225
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-28 39.3% 2nd Half: 18-28 64.3% OT: 3-5 60.0% Game: 52.5% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 7-12 58.3% OT: 1-1 100 % Game: 52.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 4-5 80.0% 2nd Half: 9-16 56.3% OT: 5-10 50.0% Game: 58.1% 7
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Officials: Tim Garrett, Pete Hansen, Jim Johnston
Technical fouls: Nebraska-Omaha-Seth Nelson. North Dakota-None.
Attendance: 2527
Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT Total
Nebraska-Omaha................ 41 39 8 - 88
North Dakota.................. 28 52 12 - 92