CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team waged a back-and-forth battle with Eastern Illinois on Saturday night with the Norse falling, 79-73, in overtime of a game that saw 16 lead changes and 13 ties at Lantz Arena.

Lavone Holland II scored a career-high 17 points and came three assists shy of a triple double after leading the Norse with seven assists and 12 rebounds, including 11 on the defensive glass. The sophomore also posted a career-best four steals.

With the game locked in a 62-all tie heading into overtime, the Panthers' Cornell Johnston handed EIU (2-4) a three-point edge on a triple with 4:13 left. A pair of Jordan Garnett free throws and a layup from Holland helped the Norse (1-5) reclaim their lead at 67-66 with 3:33 remaining.

The lead would be NKU's last of the game as the Norse struggled with a pair of miscues and Eastern Illinois went 3-for-4 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line over the final three and a half minutes of play to seal its victory.

Holland's double-double was matched by Jalen Billups with 17 points and 10 boards. Tyler White followed with 12 points.

Johnston scored 10 points in overtime to lead the Panthers with 24 points on the night.

In the first half, NKU used the perimeter to battle back from an early 7-2 deficit. Triples from Cole Murray and a pair from Tyler White to put together a 9-2 run. The run handed NKU its first lead of the game at 11-9 at the 16:51 mark.

The Norse fought to stay within six points of the Panthers throughout the remainder of the first half as NKU trailed by one point at halftime, 32-31.

The Norse returned to the court and rode a 7-2 run to regain the lead at 38-34 courtesy of a Billups jumper at the 17:52 mark.

After Billups tied the game at 58-all, a Holland dunk and a pair of Giesler free throws put NKU at a two-point advantage with 37 seconds remaining. EIU's Johnston sank a jumper to tie the game at 62 with 17 seconds left and force overtime.

The contest wrapped up a three-game road swing for the Norse, as they will return home to take on Norfolk State Sunday Dec. 13. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at BB&T Arena and will follow the NKU women's basketball game against West Virginia State at 4:30 p.m.
 
NORSE NOTES:

• Billups' 17 points on the night gave him 902 career points. He is the 31st Norse player to reach 900 points.
• Holland has reached double-figures in all six contests this season, the only Norse to do so. He also now has two double-doubles in his first six games for NKU.
• Despite the loss, NKU won the rebounding battle, 45-34.