DeKALB | Live by the three-pointer. Die by the three-pointer.

That classic sports cliche rang true for NIU Monday night.

As a team, the Huskies shot a combined 8-21 from beyond the arch against Ball State.

Key three pointers were made by NIU throughout the game to take or cut down leads – until it mattered most.

With 29 seconds left in the game, Ball State guard Peyton Stovall missed a free throw to give the Cardinals a four-point lead.

NIU called a time out to set up its play. Cody Yelder took the inbound and looked for his shot, but passed to Ryan Paradise. Paradise, with time winding down, drove to the lane but missed on the lay-up.

James Hughes attempted the tip in, but the ball wouldn’t fall. Mike McKinney got into the scrum and slapped the ball out to a wide open Zach Pancratz, his toes just behind the three-point line.

Pancratz had made back-to-back three-pointers from nearly the same location in the same half to pull NIU within three of Ball State.

The junior forward aimed his shot and pulled the trigger, but the ball came up just short.

“It was a great look,” Pancratz said. “If I had another shot, I’d knock it down eight out of 10 times.”

Pancratz shot 40 percent from beyond the arc, going 2-5, both makes coming in the second half.

Prior to the miss, NIU had used the three-point shot as an equalizer all night.

In the beginning of the game, Quintan Lipkins made three three-pointers in a two minute span to go on a one-man 6-2 run to tie the game at 14.

The sophomore guard led both teams with three three-pointers on 3-4 shooting.

With 9:44 left in the first half, a three-pointer by Ryan Paradise gave the Huskies their first lead of the contest. The senior guard hit another three-pointer with 6:30 left to give NIU another lead.

Despite the missed three-pointer, head coach Rob Judson was pleased with Pancratz’s performance.

“I’ll take 40 percent shooting from three-pointers out of any guy any night,” Judson said.