Larsson’s clutch FTs lift UIC
Marcus Larsson converted two free throws with 10 seconds left to lift UIC past Northern Illinois 61-60 on Sunday at Credit Union 1 Arena.
Anthony Crump scored six consecutive points to put the Huskies in front 60-59 with under a minute to play, but Larsson snared the rebound off a missed free throw by Keshawn Williams and drew a foul.
‘‘Marcus is confident, and he was huge,’’ UIC coach Luke Yaklich said. ‘‘It’s a testament to him.’’
Crump missed a potential game-winning jumper with one second left.
The Flames led 35-28 at half and took a 45-36 lead on a Michael Diggins jumper with 13:39 remaining. But the Huskies were able to nip away at the lead.
‘‘When we do not generate enough offense, it affects our defense a little bit,’’ Yaklich said.
Damaria Franklin had 17 points and seven rebounds and Kevin Johnson had 14 points and six assists for UIC (4-7). Zion Griffin added eight rebounds. Diggins had three blocks.
Williams scored a career-high 25 points for the Huskies (3-7). Crump added 16 points.
Trendon Hankerson, who was second on the Huskies in scoring entering the contest with 11 points per game, shot only 17% (1-for-6).
‘‘I’m proud of the guys, they competed, but we have to get better to start the game, guys have to start quicker,” NIU coach Rashon Burno said.
The Flames did have a 39-28 rebounding edge, and the plus-11 margin was their highest of the season.
‘‘Everybody wants the extra possession,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘Coach has been preaching attack the offensive boards, and we came out and did that.’’
The Flames launched a lot of threes: 29 of their 56 shots were three-pointers, but they made only six.
UIC resumes Horizon League play Dec. 30 against IPFW.
Kansas State 67, Nebraska 58
Nijel Pack scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished five assists to spark the Wildcats (7-3). Alonzo Verge Jr. finished with 21 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead the Cornhuskers (5-7), who didn’t have a field goal in the final 3:32 of the game.
COVID canceling games
The game scheduled for Tuesday between No. 15 Ohio State and TennesseeMartin was canceled because of COVID-19 issues within the Buckeyes. Ohio State (8-2) last played Dec. 11, a 73-55 victory over Wisconsin. Their next game is Dec. 28 at home against New Orleans.
Elsewhere, Memphis announced that its game Tuesday against Alabama State would not be played.