Jan. 22, 2008

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DeKalb, Ill.  - The Northern Illinois men's basketball team made just one basket in the final 15 minutes against Ball State, but it was the biggest basket of the night.

NIU senior forward Egan Grafel (Oberlin, Kan./Decatur Community/Cloud County C.C.) converted a go-ahead, three-point play with 20 seconds left to help the Huskies secure the 60-58 MAC victory at the NIU Convocation Center on Tuesday night.

Grafel finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. NIU senior forward Shaun Logan (Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott/Cloud County) posted 19 points and nine rebounds, while junior guard Jarvis Nichols (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North/Pratt C.C.) added 13 points in the victory.

With the victory, NIU improves to 5-12 overall and 2-3 in MAC play, while the visiting Cardinals drop to 3-14 on the season and 2-3 in conference action.

Ball State forward Anthony Newell led the Cardinals with 24 points, while senior guard Peyton Stovall added 11 tallies.

The Huskies' prior bucket before Grafel's winning tally was a Bristan Kelley (Lee's Summit, Mo./North) lay-up at the 15:27 mark, giving NIU the 45-29 advantage. From that point on, Ball State made their run.

Newell led a 28-11 charge, culminating with an alley-oop dunk off a feed from Stovall to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game at 57-56 at the 2:20 mark.  

Both teams traded possessions back and forth until Logan snagged a Stovall missed jumper with 30 seconds left. NIU rushed up the floor and Grafel took the feed from Nichols, converted the bucket and was fouled by Stovall on the play. The Oberlin, Kansas native knocked down his free throw, giving NIU the 59-57 lead with 20 seconds left.

Grafel didn't have much time to think, but he knew what he had to do.

"Go up with it," Grafel said. "It was a good pass and I was able to hit it."

On the ensuing possession, Stovall drove to the basket and was fouled by Nichols with six seconds left, sending the fifth-year senior to the line for a pair of charity tosses and a chance to tie the game. Stovall drained the first to bring the Cardinals to within one point at 59-58, but missed the second.

Grafel grabbed the rebound, was promptly fouled and split a pair of free throws to extend NIU's lead to 60-58, but giving Ball State a chance for the win or tie. BSU guard Melvin Goins' game-tying attempt at the buzzer, however, went array, securing the Huskie win.

"It had to be a great game from a fan's standpoint," NIU men's basketball coach Ricardo Patton said. "Early on, I hoped we would continue to make shots.  We hung in there, grinded this one out and found a way to win which is what you have to do.  It was close, as most games are, and you have to find a way to win these types of games.  I'm pleased that the guys didn't drop their heads and think the game was over [after Ball State took the lead]."

NIU returns to the road on Sunday, as the Huskies will begin their run through the MAC East Division, opening with Bowling Green for a 1 p.m. (CST) tip-off.

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