By Bryan McEldowney
NKU Athletics Communications
Lavone Holland II took control for Northern Kentucky in the final three-and-a-half minutes to lift the Norse to a 72-61 win at Norfolk State on Saturday night. NKU improves to 5-3 on the season, while NSU dips to 2-7.
STATS LEADERS
· Holland led NKU with 20 points. He was 5-for-11 from the floor, including a 2-for-4 showing beyond the 3-point line and 8-for-10 at the charity stripe. Both of Holland’s treys came in the decisive stretch.
· Drew McDonald’s streak of consecutive 20-point games came to an end, but just barely as the sophomore posted 18 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
· Cole Murray went 5-of-12 from deep en route to 15 points.
TURNING POINT
· Holland’s 3-point shot from the top of the key with 3:29 left in the game pushed Northern Kentucky ahead by six. The three came at a key moment after the Norse weathered quite a surge by Norfolk State.
· The junior guard dominated the final stretch, scoring 12 points in the final stretch.
FIRST-HALF SUMMARY
· The first half opened in a back-and-forth affair and the game knotted at 16 all.
· But, Northern Kentucky responded with a 15-2 run over the next seven-and-a-half minutes to run out to a 31-18 advantage.
· After five straight from the Spartans, NKU closed the half with threes from Jordan Garnett and Cole Murray and a fastbreak layup from Dantez Walton to secure a 39-23 lead at intermission.
· Stingy defense from Northern Kentucky held Norfolk State to a paltry 27 percent (9-of-24) shooting. NKU converted 41 percent (14-of-34), including 47 percent (7-of-15) from 3-point territory.
· McDonald continued his strong run of play with 12 points in the opening half.
SECOND-HALF SUMMARY
· Norfolk State started the second frame with a 16-4 run, to cut Northern Kentucky’s sizeable margin to just four, 43-39, a mere seven minutes into the stanza.
· NKU never relinquished the lead, but it was eventually cut to two with 11 minutes to play.
· Holland took over the game for NKU over the decisive stretch.
· Northern Kentucky shot 43 percent (9-of-21) in the half, but allowed Norfolk State to make 53 percent (16-of-30) of their shots.
· The long ball proved to be the difference in the half, as the Norse held a 5-2 advantage from three.
GAME NOTES
· Northern Kentucky won the rebound battle, 38-36. The Norse have now won the battle in seven of their eight games.
· NKU is now 5-0 on the season when at least three players reach double-figures. Holland, McDonald and Murray reached the mark tonight.
· This marks the fourth-straight game NKU has won away from BB&T Arena. NKU is 3-1 in true road games and 1-1 in neutral site games this year. The Norse won just two away from home last year and four the previous season.
