Bowen Born buzzer-beating 3s force 2 OTs, but Drake outlasts UNI

Bulldogs tied for Missouri Valley Conference lead, Panthers a game back

The Gazette

Feb. 1, 2023 11:29 pm, Updated: Feb. 2, 2023 10:10 am

Northern Iowa guard Bowen Born (13) shoots a 3-point basket between Drake guard Conor Enright, left, and guard Tucker DeVries, right, at the end of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. Drake won 88-81 in double overtime. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Bowen Born forced two overtime periods with buzzer-beating 3-pointers, but his Northern Iowa men’s basketball team still came up short at Drake, 88-81, Wednesday at Knapp Center.

The Panthers (12-11, 8-5 MVC), trailing 64-61 with 3.5 seconds left in regulation, inbounded in the backcourt to Born, who raced up the floor and drilled an off-balance 3 from the left wing while being double-teamed to force overtime.

Drake (18-6, 9-4) then built a 72-66 lead, but Born hit a pair of free throws and James Betz knocked down a 3 to cut the lead to one. Two Tucker DeVries free throws extended the Bulldogs’ advantage to three and Betz missed a trey at the other end with less than a minute left.

But Conor Enright missed a pair of free throws, opening the door for Born again. After a miss in the lane, Born chased down an inbound pass from the baseline with 3.6 seconds left and tossed in a running 3 at the buzzer — this time with three defenders surrounding him.

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Born finished with 30 points on 10-for-22 shooting, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range, but the Bulldogs outscored the Panthers 14-7 in the second OT, preventing more heroics.

Both teams are now among eight within a game of each other in the Missouri Valley Conference standings. Drake is tied for the league lead with Southern Illinois, Bradley and Belmont.

Roman Penn led five Drake players in double-figures scoring with 28 points, hitting all nine of his free-throw attempts. D.J. Wilkins, Garrett Sturtz and Darnell Brodie all had 12 points, while DeVries scored 11 after missing the last game with an infection. Sturtz also collected 13 rebounds and three steals.

Landon Wolf added 15 points off the bench for UNI. Trey Campbell scored 13, Michael Duax 11 and Betz 10.

The return game between the rivals is Feb. 15 at McLeod Center.