DeKALB, IL – Toledo pulled out a critical 88-80 (OT) victory at Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon to remain a game out of first place in the Mid-American Conference's West Division. The Rockets (14-13, 7-7 MAC), who lead the nation with seven overtime games, will now play their next three games in Savage Arena beginning Tuesday evening with a matchup against Western Michigan (11-15, 7-7 MAC).

Senior guard Jonathan Williams and sophomore forward Nate Navigato shared team scoring honors with 21 points apiece to help UT avenge a 74-72 home setback to NIU on Jan. 28. Navigato scored the Rockets' final four points in regulation to send the game to overtime tied at 71. He followed those heroics by hitting a big three-pointer with 1:31 remaining in overtime to give UT an 82-78 advantage that it wouldn't relinquish.

Freshman guard Eugene German and senior forward Marin Maric paced the Huskies (14-13, 6-8 MAC) with 27 and 24 points, respectively.

Toledo posted a 54.5 field-goal percentage, including a 45.0 percent (9-of-20) mark from three-point range, and dominated the boards by a 39-27 margin. Senior forward Steve Taylor, Jr. led the way on the glass with 10 rebounds with senior guard Jordan Lauf collecting nine caroms

Northern Illinois converted 45.5 percent of its shots, 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) from three-point range. The Rockets also held a slight edge at the free-throw line by knocking down 19-of-28 (67.9 percent) attempts compared to NIU's 16-of-24 (66.7 percent) totals.

The Huskies were able to make up for their disadvantages in the shooting and rebounding department by committing just two turnovers compared to the Rockets' 13 miscues.

Toledo looked ready to pull away from NIU when freshman guard Justin Roberts buried a three-point field goal for a 59-44 cushion with 11:31 to play. The Rockets then went without a field goal for the next eight minutes as NIU rallied to even the score at 64-64 on a pair of German free throws with 3:58 to play. Sophomore guard Jaelan Sanford's trey put UT back on top, 67-64, with 3:25 remaining.

NIU sophomore guard Austin Pauga's three-pointer tied the game on the Huskies' next possession. Taylor then fouled out trying to grab an offensive board, and Maric's ensuing free throw gave the hosts their first lead of the second half, 68-67, with 2:35 left. Pauga drilled another trey to put the Rockets down 71-67 with 1:52 remaining. Navigato was then fouled after grabbing an offensive board and hit two free throws to bring UT within two points with 1:20 to play. He then knocked down a baseline jumper with 31.2 seconds left before Pauga's three-point attempt rimmed out at the end of regulation.
 

Coach Kowalczyk's Post-Game Comments vs. Northern Illinois