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RALSTON, Neb. – Nebraska Omaha took a 79-75 non-conference decision over Chicago State men's basketball on Tuesday (Feb. 19) evening at Ralston Arena in suburban Omaha.
It was the second meeting between the two clubs this season and Tuesday's game played out eerily similar to the previous meeting when Chicago State lost a five-point lead in the game's final four minutes to lose by two points. On Tuesday, Chicago State led 62-55 with 5:15 remaining only to see Omaha score the next 14 points to steal the game.
Chicago State was slow out of the gates to start of the game, falling behind 12-2. Three consecutive 3-pointers, two from junior
Quinton Pippen (Hamburg, Ark./Hamburg), put the Cougars up 15-14. Later on in the half UNO put together a 7-0 run to grab a 26-19 lead with 5:56 remaining.
A different Chicago State team came out of the locker room after the break. Chicago State went on an 18-3 run to start the half. It came with juniors
Corey Gray (Houston, Texas/Hightower),
Nate Duhon (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) and
Aaron Williams (Chicago, Ill./Chicago Vocational) starting the half after not being in the starting lineup. Four straight points by Duhon put Chicago State up 48-39 five minutes into the second half. Omaha advanced within three points at 50-47 before a Pippen steal, layup while fouled and free throw made it 52-47. A
Jeremy Robinson (Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower) dunk then followed on the next possession to put CSU back up by eight points.
Chicago State led by seven points (62-55) with 5:13 remaining when Omaha went on a 14-0 run over the next three minutes to go lead 69-62.
The Mavericks made 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to seal the game.
“We lost this game early with 11 turnovers in the first half,” Chicago State head coach
Tracy Dildy said. “We had to extend so much effort to fight back we just rant out of gas at the end.”
For the contest, Omaha found considerable success at the free throw line. The Mavericks made 19-of-25 attempts. Chicago State converted on just 5-of-9 attempts.
As a team, Chicago State shot 48.5 percent (32-of-66) to Omaha's 48.1 percent (25-of-52).
Pippen finished with a team-high 17 points.
Matt Ross (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) and Duhon added 15 points each. Williams had his second consecutive nice game off the bench, recording a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Justin Simmons led Omaha with a game-high 26 points.
"We've played some big time teams this year and Simmons is as good as a wing player I've seen all year," Dildy said. "He made some big plays down the stretch."
Omaha improves to 10-18. Chicago State falls to 8-18.
The Cougars return to the court on Saturday (Feb. 23) against UTPA in a 7:30 p.m. CT tip at the Jones Convocation Center.
