UMKC loses late lead and falls 95-89 to Nebraska-Omaha in overtime

UMKC couldn’t protect a four-point lead with 29 seconds to play and lost 95-89 in overtime at Nebraska-Omaha on Tuesday night.

Nebraska-Omaha cut the Kangaroos’ lead to two from the free-throw line with 25 seconds left, then the Mavericks fouled UMKC’s Martez Harrison, who only made the second of two free throws. Then Thaddius Smith fouled the Mavericks’ Devin Patterson on a layup and Patterson made the free throw, tying the score with 12 seconds left.

Harrison missed a three-pointer with 2 seconds left and UMKC headed to overtime without three players who’d fouled out — LaVell Boyd, who scored 17 points, Shayok Shayok and Noah Knight. Dashawn King fouled out in OT.

“A disappointing loss,” UMKC coach Kareem Richardson said. “They got to the rim and we did exactly what was asked not to do, and we foul and give up an and-one, they tie the game and send it to overtime.”

Tre’Shawn Thurman, who scored a career-high 30 points with 11 rebounds, made three jumpers in overtime for the Mavericks, who went 36-for-48 from the free-throw line as 61 fouls were whistled during the game — a school-record 37 on UMKC, 1-2.

“It really messed up our rotations up with so many guys in foul trouble,” Richardson said. “We have to keep harping on our guys to play without using our hands and moving our feet. You know, it’s tough looking at the stat sheet, and the way the game is being called, it makes it very tough. You look at the score, 95-89, and I believe the NCAA got what they wanted with the score going up.”

Nebraska-Omaha also got 19 points from Patterson and 17 from Jake White, who scored 13 of his at the foul line.

Harrison led the Kangaroos with 18 points and 11 assists.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 2:03 PM with the headline "UMKC loses late lead and falls 95-89 to Nebraska-Omaha in overtime."