Walton nets 22 points, NKU clinches fourth consecutive 20-win season with 73-59 triumph at Cleveland State

NKyTribune staff

CLEVELAND — Dantez Walton scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half Thursday night as Northern Kentucky posted a 73-59 win over Cleveland State.

Walton added eight rebounds and buried five 3-pointers to help NKU pull away and improve to 20-8 overall, 12-4 in the Horizon League. The senior from Lima, Ohio, hit a trio of 3-pointers early in the second half as NKU built a double-digit lead and coasted to the win.

Walton has now scored 944 career points at NKU. He averages a team-leading 16.2 points per contest and has made 44 shots from 3-point range this season.

NKU’s Jalen Tate finished with 16 points — 14 in the second half — five rebounds and four steals. Adrian Nelson grabbed 13 rebounds for the Norse, who owned a 43-38 edge on the glass. It marked the ninth time this season Nelson has recorded double-figure rebound totals.

Tyler Sharpe added 10 points and five assists for NKU, which finished with 24 second-chance points as a result of 21 offensive rebounds. The Norse were 11-for-38 from 3-point range and won despite making just 38.4 percent of their shots from the field.

NKU turned the ball over just five times, compared to 13 miscues by Cleveland State.

Torrey Patton scored 13 points to lead Cleveland State, which dropped to 10-18 overall and 6-9 in the Horizon League. The Vikings shot 45.1 percent from the field and were 4-for-13 from 3-point range.

NKU is now 7-4 all-time against Cleveland State. Earlier this season in Highland Heights, the Norse posted a 75-49 win against the Vikings.

NKU reached the 20-win mark for the fourth consecutive season. It marked just the second time in program history the Norse have won at least 20 games in four straight seasons.

While competing at the NCAA Division II level, NKU ran off four consecutive 20-win campaigns (1994-95, ’95-96, ’96-97, ’97-98) under then-head coach Ken Shields.

NKU concludes the road trip Saturday afternoon at Youngstown State, which knocked off Horizon League-leading Wright State 88-70 on Thursday night. The Raiders dropped to 23-6 overall, 13-3 in the Horizon League.

Youngstown State is 16-12 overall, 9-6 in the Horizon League.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 73, CLEVELAND STATE 59
NORTHERN KENTUCKY (73)
Sharpe 3-11 2-3 10, Adheke 3-4 0-0 6, Faulkner 1-7 0-0 2, Walton 8-18 1-1 22, Tate 7-16 2-4 16, Langdon 2-6 0-0 6, Eleeda 0-0 0-0 0, Nelson 1-3 1-3 3, Harris 1-4 0-0 2, Djoko 1-2 0-0 3, Mocaby 1-1 0-0 3, Cobbs 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-73 6-11 73.
CLEVELAND STATE (59)
Eichelberger 6-12 0-3 12, Gomillion 2-5 3-5 7, Patton 5-9 2-2 13, Thomas 1-6 0-0 3, Sanchez 1-1 2-4 4, Hill 3-6 0-0 6, Johnson 2-3 1-2 5, Ferreira 2-6 0-0 5, D. Williams 0-0 0-0 0, J. Williams 0-2 1-2 1, Eskandari 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 23-51 9-20 59.
HALFTIME: NKU 29-26. 3-POINTERS: (NKU 11-38, CSU 4-13). REBOUNDS: NKU 43 (Nelson 13), CSU 38 (Gomillion 8).
RECORDS: NKU 20-8, 12-4 HL; CSU 10-18, 6-9 HL.