Forty minutes is not enough for the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team lately.
Try 50.
The Norse pulled (4-4, 1-0) out their second consecutive double-overtime victory on Thursday, this one getting them off to a 1-0 start in Horizon League play with a 77-73 victory over Youngstown State (5-3, 0-1) at Truist Arena.
Marques Warrick continued his early season tear, scoring 30, including his 1,000th career point in the contest. Xavier Rhodes added 15, Trevon Faulkner 14 and Sam Vinson with 13.
Trailing by five with 1:15 to play in regulation, NKU tied things up after two Warrick free throws followed by a Faulkner 3-pointer with 49 seconds remaining.
Youngstown’s Dwayne Cohill gave the Penguins the lead back with 32 seconds on two free throws, but Warrick answered with a jumper to tie things up with 23 seconds to go.
The Penguins had their chances in regulation and the first overtime to win the game on a final shot, but missed on both attempts.
NKU took control in the second overtime, scoring the first four points on a Faulkner and Warrick jumper, never relenquishing the lead from there.
The Norse are back in action on Saturday when they host Robert Morris at 6 p.m.