Three different Norse players scored at least 18 points on Tuesday as the Northern Kentucky men’s basketball team closed the game on a 20-9 run to overcome a double-digit deficit and defeat Wright State, 83-76, at home.
With two games left in the regular-season, NKU is now one win away from a 20-win campaign. The Norse improve to 19-10 overall and 10-6 in the Horizon League. Wright State dips to 19-10 overall and 10-6 in League play.
Cole Murray paced NKU with 23 points on an 8-for-14 showing that included a 5-of-10 performance from long range (NKU Athletics Photo)
STAT LEADERS
· Cole Murray paced NKU with 23 points on an 8-for-14 showing that included a 5-of-10 performance from long range.
· Lavone Holland II followed with 19 points, five rebounds and six assists. The junior went 7-for-12 from the field and 3-for-6 from three.
· McDonald trailed close behind with 18 points and team-high six rebounds. He scored nine points in the final six minutes to fuel the comeback.
· Carson Williams and Jordan Garnett posted eight points apiece. Williams added five rebounds while Garnett dished out three assists.
TURNING POINT
· With 6:05 left in the game, a pair of McDonald free throws sparked nine uninterrupted points that gave the Norse a five-point edge at 72-67 with just under four minutes to play.
· Wright State tied the game at the 1:20 mark and would knot it up again at 76-all with 45 seconds left.
· The Norse held the Raiders scoreless throughout the remainder of the contest and scored seven-straight to seal the win.
· The game-ending 7-0 run included five-straight points from McDonald as the Norse defense held Wright State to one field goal across the final three minutes.
GAME NOTES
· The Norse are now on a four-game win streak at BB&T Arena as they have overcome double-digit deficits in the second half in back-to-back games at home. NKU trailed 47-37 with 17:16 left in the game. In the come-from-behind win over Milwaukee on Homecoming, Northern Kentucky trailed by 13 with 8:30 remaining before closing out a 69-63 decision.
· NKU’s home record improves to 10-2.
· The team’s record increases to 15-3 when at least one player tallies at least 20 points in the scoring column. Further, NKU is now 6-4 when trailing at the half.
· NKU outscored Wright State, 50-36, in the second half and shot 58.1 percent from the field (18-of-31).
· Holland has posted five or more assists 12 times this season and has double-figures in 20 of NKU’s 29 games.
· The Norse have won seven of their last nine.
UP NEXT
· With just two games left in the regular season, Northern Kentucky hosts UIC on Friday at 7:30 p.m. following the NKU women’s game against Milwaukee at BB&T Arena. The Norse then wrap up the regular season against League-leading Valparaiso on Sunday at 1 p.m. before the women host Green Bay at 3:30 p.m.
From NKU Athletics
