AJ Green scored seven of his 32 points in overtime to spark Northern Iowa to a 102-96 victory over Loyola on Saturday, wrapping up the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title for the Panthers.
Green made 16 of 18 free throws for UNI (18-10, 14-4), which has won four straight. He hit a 3-pointer and four foul shots in the extra period. His basket with 28 seconds left in regulation sent the game to overtime tied at 87.
Noah Carter had 24 points and seven rebounds for the Panthers, while Bowen Born scored a season-high 20.
Lucas Williamson scored a career-high 29 points and had seven rebounds for the Ramblers (22-7, 13-5). Ryan Schwieger added 17 points, and Braden Norris had 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
It was the final regular-season game in the Missouri Valley for Loyola, which is moving to the Atlantic 10 in July.
Northern Iowa finished a game in front of Missouri State, Drake and Loyola in the MVC race. The Ramblers dropped to the fourth seed in next week’s conference tournament in St. Louis, where they will open against fifth-seeded Bradley at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
If both Northern Iowa and Loyola win their quarterfinals, they would meet again in the first of next Saturday’s semifinals. They split the regular-season series, with Loyola winning 85-58 on Feb. 13 at Gentile Arena.