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NEWARK, N.J. – Chicago State men's hoops lost a triple overtime marathon at NJIT 83-78 on Saturday (Jan. 12) afternoon in the Great West Conference opener for the Cougars.
“It was a hard fought DI game with two teams that didn't give up,” Chicago State head coach
Tracy Dildy said.
Junior
Quinton Pippen (Hamburg, Ark./Hamburg) (Hamburg, Ark./Hamburg/Missouri State-West Plains CC) had 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. Junior
Matt Ross (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) (Dixon, Ill./Dixon/Sauk Valley CC) totaled 19 points and 11 rebounds while playing most of overtime with four fouls.
The Cougars had the final possession in regulation and the first overtime with the opportunity to win the game but couldn't convert. Chicago State trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half before forcing extra time.
NJIT built their lead due to success from long range, making six of their first 12 3-point attempts. Ryan Woods' trey at 16:50 in the second half gave the Highlanders their largest lead of the game at 41-30. Trailing 47-38, midway through the second half, the Cougars scored the next seven points to get back in it. Sophomore
Clarke Rosenberg (Skokie, Ill./Evanston Township) (Skokie, Ill./Evanston Township) had four points and Pippen had a 3-pointer in the run.
The Cougars didn't take the lead until Pippen drained a 3-pointer with 2:40 remaining to put Chicago State up 52-51. NJIT retook the lead after a pair of free throws by PJ Miller. Rosenberg drove to the basket and was fouled with 48 seconds left as he attempted a shot falling away from the basket. Rosenberg made the first, but missed the second, keeping the score tied at 52. Miller missed three shots for NJIT on the other end before the Cougars could wrangle a rebound. Chicago State brought the ball up and took a time out with 18 seconds remaining. The Cougars fed Ross in the post, but Ross' contested shot with only a few seconds left didn't fall.
The first overtime session was as tight as the final minutes of the game with neither team leading by more than two points. Chicago State had a chance to put the game away when Ross attempted a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left. If it went, it would have made the score 62-58. Instead Rosenberg picked up a foul going for an offensive rebound after the miss. Sean McCarthy went to the line for NJIT and made just the first to tie it up at 59. Like regulation, Chicago State had a chance to win the game but this time Rosenberg tripped driving to the basket and the Cougars didn't get off a shot.
The second overtime was nothing like the first, with Chicago State trailing by as many as five points in the second session. Junior
Corey Gray (Houston, Texas/Hightower) (Houston, Texas/Hightower/UIC) shorted the lead to only one at 66-65 on a 3-pointer with 45 seconds remaining. Chris Flores made just one free throw on the ensuing possession. Chicago State asked for time with 11 seconds remaining. Junior
Jamere Dismukes (Park Forest, Ill./Rich East) (Park Forest, Ill./Rich East/BlackHawk College) took the ball to the basket, missed, but sophomore
Markus Starks (Calumet City, Ill./Wirt (Ind.)) (Calumet City, Ill./Wirt (Ind.)) was there for the tip-in to tie it up at 67 with one second remaining and force another overtime.
NJIT found their 3-point stroke once again in the third overtime. Woods made a pair of 3-pointers and Flores made a third to help NJIT open a seven-point lead. Chicago State didn't quit, and cut the lead to a single possession at 81-78 with 20 seconds left. But NJIT broke the press to get Daquan Holiday a layup just seconds later to ice the game.
“In that third overtime, it was their seniors Woods, Miller and Flores really stepping up and making some plays that decided the game,” Dildy said.
Flores finished with 28 points for NJIT. He helped NJIT shoot 41 percent (23-of-56) for the game while Chicago State finished 32 percent (27-of-84) from the floor. The Cougars made up for it by holding a 23-11 offensive rebounding edge.
“We concentrated on out rebounding them and we did that, but we didn't shoot our best,” Dildy said. “We're a better shooting team than we showed today, but still 35 3-point attempts is too many for us.”
It was Chicago State's first triple overtime game since losing 123-121 in four overtimes at home to Utah Valley on Jan. 29, 2009.
NJIT improves to 8-8 (2-0 GWC). Chicago State falls to 4-14 (0-1 GWC). The Cougars return to non-conference play on Monday at 7:00 p.m. in a home game with Benedictine Springfield.
