Ahale makes go-ahead 3, UIC beats Horizon League leader NKU
CHICAGO -- Tarkus Ferguson had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Jamie Ahale made his only basket of the game with 2.5 seconds left to help Illinois-Chicago beat Horizon League leader Northern Kentucky 69-67 on Sunday.
Michael Diggins' fast-break dunk, off a nice baseline drive and pass from Godwin Boahen, put UIC ahead 60-54 with just under four minutes to play. But NKU battled back and Drew McDonald scored on a quick inbounds play for a 67-66 lead with 59.7 seconds left.
After a timeout at 12.6, Boahen drove to the basket but got his shot blocked out of bounds. UIC inbounded it again and Ahale got it in the corner, pump-faked to get a defender in the air and sank a wide-open 3-pointer. Tyler Sharpe's long 3-pointer just before the buzzer got wedged between the rim and the backboard.
Diggins came off the bench and scored 16 points and Boahen finished with 12 for UIC (12-12, 6-5 Horizon League). Ferguson grabbed an offensive rebound, his seventh board of the game, to reach the 500-rebound career mark.
Sharpe led Northern Kentucky (18-6, 8-3) with 20 points and four 3-pointers, and McDonald had 18 points and nine rebounds.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Robert Riley
- Bo Boroski
- Donnie Eppley
2024-25 Horizon League Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown State | 6-1 | - | 11-6 |
| Cleveland State | 5-1 | 0.5 | 11-6 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 5-2 | 1 | 12-6 |
| Milwaukee | 4-2 | 1.5 | 11-6 |
| Northern Kentucky | 4-2 | 1.5 | 9-8 |
| Wright State | 2-3 | 3 | 8-8 |
| Oakland | 2-3 | 3 | 5-11 |
| Robert Morris | 2-4 | 3.5 | 10-7 |
| Detroit Mercy | 2-4 | 3.5 | 6-11 |
| IU Indianapolis | 1-5 | 4.5 | 5-12 |
| Green Bay | 0-6 | 5.5 | 2-15 |
2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley | 4-1 | - | 13-3 |
| Drake | 3-2 | 1 | 13-2 |
| Belmont | 3-2 | 1 | 11-5 |
| UIC | 3-2 | 1 | 10-5 |
| Valparaiso | 3-2 | 1 | 10-6 |
| Murray State | 3-2 | 1 | 9-7 |
| Indiana State | 3-2 | 1 | 9-7 |
| Northern Iowa | 3-2 | 1 | 9-7 |
| Evansville | 3-2 | 1 | 6-10 |
| Illinois State | 2-3 | 2 | 10-6 |
| Missouri State | 0-5 | 4 | 7-9 |
| Southern Illinois | 0-5 | 4 | 5-11 |
Men's College Basketball News
