DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team rallied from a 15-point second half deficit before falling in overtime to Toledo, 88-80, on Saturday afternoon at the NIU Convocation Center. 

Senior Marin Maric (Split, Croatia/La Lumiere School) posted his 22nd career double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds; freshman Eugene German (Gary, Ind./21st Century Charter) scored a career-high 27 points while sophomore Austin Pauga (Naperville, Ill./IMG Academy) added a season-best 12 points off the bench. 

NIU committed just two turnovers in the contest, the fewest by a Huskie team during head coach Mark Montgomery's tenure, but Toledo shot 54.5 percent (30-of-55) from the field, including 45 percent (9-of-20) from three-point range, and outrebounded the Huskies, 39-27. 

Leading by a half-dozen at the intermission, Toledo used a quick start to the second half to take a 59-44 lead with 11:31 to play in regulation. 

Maric answered for the Huskies as he scored the next seven to cut the Rocket lead nearly in half, 59-51, with 9:25 left. After a pair of free throws by Toledo, Maric scored two more with a pair of free throws of his own as the Rocket lead remained eight with just under nine minutes to play. 

After a Toledo free throw pushed the lead to nine, Maric knocked down two more from the charity stripe to pull the Huskies within seven. With just under seven minutes to play, Pauga canned a trifecta to cut the Toledo lead to just 62-58. 

Another free throw from Toledo extended the lead back to five before four-straight points from German brought the Huskies within just one, 62-63, with just under five minutes to play. 

Toledo (14-13, 7-7 MAC) split two more free throws to increase its lead to a pair before German knocked down two from the line to even the game, 64-64, with 3:54 left in regulation. 

After the two teams traded triples, Marin made a free throw to give NIU a 68-67 lead with two-and-a-half minutes to play. The Huskie lead increased to four with Pauga knocked in another trifecta with less than two minutes left. 

A pair of free throws with 80 seconds to play in regulation cut the NIU lead in half and, following a defensive stop, Toledo made a jumper to even the game, 71-71. NIU came up empty on the final possession of regulation and the game went to overtime. 

In the extra period, Maric drew first blood to push the Huskies in front by a pair before Toledo answered with a triple to move in front by one. 

NIU (14-13, 6-8 MAC) had pulled back even before three consecutive free throws gave the Rockets a 79-76 lead with just over two minutes to play in the extra period. 

Marin knocked down two free throws to bring NIU back within one, but Toledo answered with a triple with 90 seconds to play in overtime as the Rockets took an 82-78 lead. The Huskies came up empty on their next possession and Toledo increased its lead from the free-throw line as the Rockets pulled out the road victory. 

Jonathan Williams and Nate Navigato each had 21 points to lead the Rockets; Steve Taylor Jr. added 14 points and 10 rebounds while Jaelan Sanford chipped in 12 points. 

NIU returns to the road on Tuesday, Feb. 21, when the Huskies travel to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., to face Central Michigan. Game time against the Chippewas is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.