Midland, Mich. – On Feb. 12 at Riepma Arena, the University of Findlay men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 88-87 overtime loss to Northwood University. Northwood, now 14-10 overall and 8-8 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), took the lead with 22 seconds left in overtime before the Oilers, who dropped to 15-9 and 9-7 in league play, saw their final shot in the paint miss at the buzzer.
The matchup was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than 11 and the score tied nine times. Findlay trailed 40-37 at halftime but continually battled back behind its bench production and transition scoring. Northwood answered each push, forcing overtime with a fastbreak layup in the final seconds of regulation to tie the game at 80.
In the extra period, the teams continued trading blows until Anthony Johnson gave the Oilers an 87-86 lead with 35 seconds left. Northwood's Will Young II responded with a jumper on the next possession, and Findlay came up empty on two late opportunities, sealing the narrow defeat.
Findlay shot 39.3 percent from the field, 26.9 percent from three and 87.5 percent at the free-throw line while scoring 48 points in the paint, 43 off the bench and 25 off turnovers. Northwood countered with 51.6 percent shooting and won the rebounding battle 47–38, giving the Timberwolves key extra possessions in crucial stretches.
Johnson led the Oilers with 16 points, scoring twice in overtime and adding four rebounds. Sophomore Steele Meister also finished with 16 points, going 6-for-6 at the line. Freshman Javonte Hill added 11 points, including several early baskets that sparked Findlay's first-half surge. Sophomore Alex Kendall contributed nine points and seven rebounds, Senior Jagger Landers added nine off the bench, and junior Jake Bishop chipped in eight, including two big three-pointers.
Northwood was powered by standout guard Will Young II, who delivered 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting and hit the go-ahead jumper in overtime. His shotmaking throughout the night proved to be the difference in a game decided by a single possession.
The Oilers, now 8-8 in its' previous 16 games, have a critical matchup against Ohio Dominican on the road on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Columbus, Ohio. That contest tips at 3:00 pm.
