Northern Kentucky took on Robert Morris as the Norse looked to extend their five-game winning streak. 

The Norse came out ready to play to start the game as Sam Vinson got the game underway with a jumper to start a 7-2 run. Robert Morris’s Alvaro Folguerias made the first field goal for the Colonials four minutes into regulation as the Norse led 9-4 at the first media timeout. 

The Norse kept the steady lead until Robert Morris’s Amarion Dickerson got fouled on a made shot and sealed the three-point play with the free throw to make it a one-possession game, with the Norse still leading 16-13. The Norse then committed two turnovers consecutively and the Colonials took advantage of that, and made it a one-point game. 

An explosive dunk by Robert Morris’s Josh Omojafo tied the game, but he wasn’t finished yet, as he soared through the air once again and slammed the ball through the hoop. Robinson got called for the foul that resulted in a three-point play for Omojago as the Colonials now led 21-18

Randall Pettus II converted off back-to-back Colonial turnovers to hand the lead back to the Norse as they now led 24-21. 

Baskets were traded back but the Colonials closed the first half with a 6-0 run as they took the 36-32 lead going into halftime. 

The second half began and the turnover issues continued. Vinson caused one which Dickerson capitalized on with a three and the Colonials climbed to their largest lead of the day 44-37. 

Pettus II got NKU’s offense rolling as he hit a jumper to start a 9-0 Norse run. Sam Vinson knocked down the shot as he drew the foul. Vinson converted on the and-one to tie the game 47-47. The Norse then took the lead for the first time in the second half with a layup from Keeyan Itejere 

Dickerson ended the Norse’s run with a layup to cut the Colonial’s deficit to 53-49

With six minutes left in regulation, the Colonials went on a 7-0 run as Kam Woods knocked down a three to give the lead back to the Colonials 67-66. NKU’s Hubertas Pivorius ended the Colonial’s run, but Omojafo responded with a dunk as the Colonials led by one.

With one minute left the Norse trailed by one, Robinson played it through traffic to gain the two-point lead. Robert Morris’s DJ Smith responded with a three, followed by Robinson hitting the last shot of regulation to tie the game as they headed to overtime. 

Both teams started sloppy, with three combined turnovers in the first minute of overtime. Fouls were thrown around and both teams traded free throws. 

With less than two minutes left in overtime, Robinson committed his fifth and final foul, and Robert Morris’s Alvaro Folgueiras headed to the line. Folgueras drained one shot to take the three-point lead 78-75. 

Fouls continued to fly back and forth as Vinson headed to the line, he could only convert one shot as the Norse still trailed by two. Josh Dilling made the only shot in the first overtime period with a needed three, and the Norse took their first lead in overtime 79-78. 

With less than a minute left, Kam Woods drove in the layup to regain the one-point lead for the Colonials.

Smith got called on a foul to send Dilling to the line. Dilling made one of the two shots to tie the game 80-80 as they headed to double overtime.

Woods got that started with a three, followed by a dunk from Itejere. Both teams then traded threes to tie the game 86-86. 

Neither team could find the basket for the final two minutes as both teams combined for 4-12 from the field in the second overtime period. 

Everyone headed to triple overtime.

Folgueiras got things started with a layup. Neither team would score for almost three minutes. Vinson made the Norse’s first shot of the third overtime period with two minutes left and the game was once again tied.

Points were traded back and forth until Dickerson threw down the dunk and the Colonials held the two-point lead with 26 seconds remaining. 

NKU’s Jeremiah Israel committed a foul to send Woods to the line. Woods makes the first, misses the second, and Dickerson grabbed his 15th and final rebound of the game. 

Robert Morris’s Dilen Miller made two more free throws to end the game. 

Despite a long-fought 55 minutes of playing time, and winning the rebound battle 65-52, Northern Kentucky fell to 7-7 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

The Norse committed 23 turnovers compared to the Colonials 13. 

LJ Wells led the Norse with 19 points. Vinson led the Norse in rebounds, grabbing 14.

NKU will host Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday at Truist Arena. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m.