Northern Kentucky Norse @ UIC Flames
Ahale makes go-ahead 3, UIC beats Horizon League leader NKU
CHICAGO -- Tarkus Ferguson had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Jamie Ahale made his only basket of the game with 2.5 seconds left to help Illinois-Chicago beat Horizon League leader Northern Kentucky 69-67 on Sunday.
Michael Diggins' fast-break dunk, off a nice baseline drive and pass from Godwin Boahen, put UIC ahead 60-54 with just under four minutes to play. But NKU battled back and Drew McDonald scored on a quick inbounds play for a 67-66 lead with 59.7 seconds left.
After a timeout at 12.6, Boahen drove to the basket but got his shot blocked out of bounds. UIC inbounded it again and Ahale got it in the corner, pump-faked to get a defender in the air and sank a wide-open 3-pointer. Tyler Sharpe's long 3-pointer just before the buzzer got wedged between the rim and the backboard.
Diggins came off the bench and scored 16 points and Boahen finished with 12 for UIC (12-12, 6-5 Horizon League). Ferguson grabbed an offensive rebound, his seventh board of the game, to reach the 500-rebound career mark.
Sharpe led Northern Kentucky (18-6, 8-3) with 20 points and four 3-pointers, and McDonald had 18 points and nine rebounds.
Game Information
Chicago, IL
Referee:Robert Riley
Referee:Bo Boroski
Referee:Donnie Eppley
2025-26 Standings
| Horizon LeagueHorizon League | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright State | 15-5 | - | 23-12 |
| Robert Morris | 13-7 | 2 | 22-11 |
| Green Bay | 12-8 | 3 | 18-15 |
| Detroit Mercy | 12-8 | 3 | 17-15 |
| Oakland | 12-8 | 3 | 16-16 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 11-9 | 4 | 17-15 |
| Northern Kentucky | 10-10 | 5 | 20-14 |
| Youngstown State | 8-12 | 7 | 15-17 |
| Milwaukee | 8-12 | 7 | 12-20 |
| Cleveland State | 6-14 | 9 | 11-22 |
| IU Indianapolis | 3-17 | 12 | 7-25 |
| Missouri Valley ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 16-4 | - | 26-6 |
| Bradley | 13-7 | 3 | 21-13 |
| Illinois State | 12-8 | 4 | 23-13 |
| Murray State | 12-8 | 4 | 20-13 |
| UIC | 12-8 | 4 | 19-16 |
| Northern Iowa | 11-9 | 5 | 23-13 |
| Valparaiso | 11-9 | 5 | 18-15 |
| Southern Illinois | 10-10 | 6 | 16-16 |
| Drake | 6-14 | 10 | 14-20 |
| Indiana State | 4-16 | 12 | 11-21 |
| Evansville | 3-17 | 13 | 7-25 |




