A buzzer shot can mean one of two things.

It can be a small glimpse of hope, which turns into a celebration for the once-losing team. Or it can be a nauseous feeling, as the winning team holds on for victory.

Fortunately for the Huskies, the glimpse of hope for Ball State ended with a missed layup and a 60-58 win for NIU.

Ball State guard Melvin Goins tried to earn a foul on the last shot, but the Huskies played cleanly as the layup hit the bottom of the rim.

“This had to be a great game from a fan’s standpoint,” said NIU head coach Ricardo Patton. “It went back and forth.”

The Huskies (5-12 overall, 2-3 MAC) opened the game in control with a 25-8 lead over the Cardinals. But after an 11-0 run by BSU (3-14, 2-3), the lead was cut to nine before the half.

After halftime, the Huskies looked like they might run away with the game again, but they instead found themselves battling for the lead.

“It was a hard-fought game tonight; I was really proud of our effort,” BSU head coach Billy Taylor said. “We really battled and competed, but credit [goes] to Northern for not folding.”

Ball State’s leading scorer, Anthony Newell, showed the most effort, leading the Cardinals with 24 points.

“It does take a lot of energy to come back,” Newell said. “But I think our guys were energized and the win was there for our taking.”

Ball State almost stole the game from NIU. However, with 20 seconds left, NIU guard Jarvis Nichols threw the ball down court to Huskie Egan Grafel. The forward went up for a shot and sank it.

“He dished it off, and it was a good pass,” Grafel said. “I went up with it, and it went in.”

Grafel also made a foul shot on the play, but NIU fouled Ball State’s Peyton Stovall on the next drive.

With a one-point Huskies lead, Grafel was fouled again. After missing the first shot, he sealed the deal.

“They hung in there and grinded this one out,” Patton said. “They found a way to win.”