Omaha outlasts Denver 86-80 in double overtime

Jan 19, 2018, 05:29 am

OMAHA, Neb. -- JT Gibson hit a 3-pointer in the second overtime to give Omaha the lead and the Mavericks hit 6 of 6 free throws in the final 29 seconds to hold off Denver 86-80 on Thursday night.

Omaha led 63-59 on a KJ Robinson jumper with 2:54 left in regulation, but the Mavericks went scoreless from there and Joe Rosga hit four free throws in the final 40 seconds to send the game to overtime. Ade Murkey's jumper gave Denver a 69-64 lead with 2:27 left in the first overtime, but Matt Pile hit a free throw and Zach Jackson sank back-to-back jumpers to knot the score at 71 with 23 seconds left. Pemberton buried a 3-pointer with four seconds left to give Denver the lead, but Norl answered with a 3 with one tick remaining on the clock to send it to a second extra period.

Murkey's layup with 2:35 left in the second overtime gave the Pioneers a 78-77 lead, but Gibson connected from long range and Robinson, Norl and Ayo Akinwole all hit two free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win.

Jackson paced Omaha (7-14, 2/3 Summit League) with 26 points and eight rebounds. Gibson and Norl both scored 15 and Pile added 10 points and seven boards for the Mavericks.

Pemberton had 20 points for the Pioneers (7-12, 1-4), while Murkey and Rosga scored 18 apiece.