OMAHA, Neb. -- The Omaha men's basketball team gutted out a double-overtime win Thursday night, taking down Denver 86-80 at Baxter Arena.
Leaders for Omaha
Daniel Norl banked a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the game to the second overtime period, finishing with 15 points with a trio of threes, two assists and three steals.
Zach Jackson tallied game-high 26 points with a team-leading eight rebounds, shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 7-of-9 at the line and adding an assist and two steals.
JT Gibson matched Norl with 15 points and three more triples, as well as two rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
Matt Pile rounded it out with scoring efforts with 10 points, seven boards and a game-high and career-best six blocks.
Leaders for Denver
Denver was led by 20 points from Jake Pemberton, who also had three rebounds, three assists and four steals. Joe Rosga and Ade Murkey added 18 points apiece, and Jake Krafka pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
Team Stats
Omaha shot .509 (29-of-57) from the field, .471 (8-of-17) from long range and .690 (20-of-29) at the line. Denver finished at .453 (34-of-75) from the floor, .375 (6-of-16) from deep and .667 (6-of-9 at the stripe and had the edge on the glass, 41-32.
Inside the First Half
Denver opened to a 9-4 start by the first media timeout and led until Omaha tied it at 17-17 on a Pile tip-in with 8:26 to go. The Pioneers led by just one, 29-28, by the intermission.
Inside the Second Half
The score locked twice early in the second half, and Omaha finally surged ahead 42-34 after Jackson and Pile combined for an 8-0 run. Denver stopped it with a 9-2 spurt of their own to pull within one, with 11 minutes to play.
A
KJ Robinson jumper helped the Mavericks take a 63-59 advantage with just under three minutes left in regulation, but they went quiet the rest of the way as DU got four free throws from Rosga in the final four seconds to send it to overtime.
Inside Overtime
In the first extra period, a Murkey bucket spotted the Pioneers a 69-64 advantage with 2:27 to go, but Pile hit a free throw and Jackson nailed consecutive jumpers to stall it at 71-71 with 23 seconds remaining. A Pemberton three with four seconds left pushed the lead back in Denver's favor, but Norl answered with a trey of his own at the buzzer to send it further into overtime.
Down 78-77 in the second overtime period, Gibson connected for a three with 1:31 left to put Omaha up for good. The Mavericks made six of their last six at the stripe to seal it, holding on for the 86-80 win.
Noting Tonight's Game
-Tonight marked Omaha's first double-overtime game at Baxter Arena since moving into the facility in 2015-16.
-The Mavericks' last double-overtime game was Feb. 28, 2015 at IUPUI, which Omaha won 87-80.
-Pile's six blocks are the most in a single game by any Maverick since Adam Wetzel's six vs. Hastings College on Dec. 31, 2002.
-Omaha has shot .500 or better in nine games this season.
-Jackson has scored in double figures in 15 consecutive games, and tonight was his eighth 20-point scoring effort of the year.
-Gibson has now hit 21-of-21 at the line since Nov. 14 and has made at least one 3-pointer in 17 straight games since Nov. 20.
Up Next
Omaha caps its homestand on Saturday, Jan. 20, welcoming South Dakota at 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena. The game will be televised live on YurView Cox Channel 1013, and Gary Sharp and John Karhoff will have the radio call on 1620 The Zone. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
