Box Score DEKALB, Ill. – Behind a game-leading 18 points from junior guard CJ Carter, the Omaha men's basketball team pulled out a 68-66 season-opening win over Northern Illinois at the Convocation Center on Friday night. With the victory, the Mavericks open to 1-0 (0-0 Summit League) on the season, while the Huskies drop to 0-1 (0-0 MAC).

Carter, a product of Omaha Benson, finished with 18 points on 4-for-9 shooting with a 3-pointer and a 9-for-11 effort at the free throw line. He also tallied six rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block for the night.

Sophomore guard Marcus Tyus added nine points on 3-for-7 shooting with two boards, three assists and a pair of steals. Senior forward Matt Hagerbaumer led the way on the glass with a game-best seven rebounds, as well as six points, and senior guard Alex Phillips chipped in seven points, four rebounds and an assist.

Northern Illinois was led by two players in double figures, topped by 16 points from Darrell Bowie. Daveon Balls added 13 points, and Aksel Bolin totaled six rebounds for the night.

As a team, the Huskies shot .421 (24-for-57) to Omaha's .388 (19-for-49). The two squads were nearly identical from long range, as NIU came in at .188 (3-for-16) and UNO shot at a .176 clip (3-for-17). At the line, Omaha shot .844 (27-for-32) to the Huskies' .536 (15-for-28).

The Mavericks faced a stiff challenge in overcoming a 39-28 halftime deficit, which marked the first time in the all-time series that Omaha had trailed Northern Illinois. In both of the previous two meetings, UNO had led by one at halftime, but NIU shot .483 compared to UNO's .348 in the first stanza.

Omaha sheared down the Huskies' double-digit lead within three minutes of opening the second half, as sophomore Devin Patterson's two free throws made it 42-33. A Carter layup and later two Carter foul shots then brought it to a five-point margin. With 11:35 to go, Phillips ended the Mavericks' 0-for-11 drought from long range, knocking down a 3-pointer to again pull Omaha within five at 51-46. A jumper and a trey from Tyus then cut NIU's lead to 53-51.

It was another four minutes before UNO managed to tie the game, as a huge 3-pointer from Carter at 3:04 knotted the score at 60-all. The Huskies went ahead again on two free throws from Pete Rakocevic, but a pair of foul shots from senior guard Justin Simmons tied it once more at 62-62. Travon Baker then hit a jumper and a free throw with 1:08 remaining, but Carter drew a foul from Rakocevic and hit both ensuing charity shots to put NIU ahead 65-64.

With 14 seconds left on the clock, Carter drove in for a layup to push Omaha ahead for a final time, 66-65. He then drew a foul from Baker to complete the three-point play, making it 67-65. With eight seconds to go, Baker was fouled by Patterson and hit his second of two free throws to pull the Huskies back within one. A final foul shot from senior guard Caleb Steffensmeier, however, sealed the win with a score of 68-66.

“Our kids never quit and fought till the end,” head coach Derrin Hansen said. “We played a complete 40 minutes tonight, and this win over Northern Illinois was a total team effort.

“CJ Carter was clutch down the stretch for us tonight. He got the ball to the basket and got it done at the free throw line.”

Omaha returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 10, meeting Iowa at 3:30 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com, as well as on the radio on KOIL 1290 AM.