The Northern Kentucky men’s basketball team put four players in double figures against Milwaukee in a game that saw six ties and three lead changes, but the Norse ultimately fell to the Panthers, 68-58, at UWM Panther Arena on Thursday.
Northern Kentucky dips to 12-7 overall and 3-3 in the Horizon League while Milwaukee improves to 5-12 (1-3 HL).
STAT LEADERS
· Lavone Holland II led the Norse with 17 points and a season-high seven assists – the most for any Norse player this season.
· Drew McDonald followed with 14 points and three rebounds while Cole Murray chipped in 11 points including a trio of 3-pointers. Murray also brought down seven rebounds, all on the defensive end.
· Williams was two rebounds shy of a double-double. The freshman posted 10 points and eight rebounds, six of which came on the defensive glass.
TURNING POINT
· The teams were tied at 30 at halftime. Upon returning to the court, NKU and Milwaukee continued to trade buckets with neither holding more than a four point lead until Milwaukee scored seven uninterrupted points for a 48-41 lead with 10:48 left in the game.
· A McDonald layup and free throw brought NKU back within four, but that would be the closest they would come to the Panthers throughout the remainder of the contest.
FIRST HALF SUMMARY
· After Milwaukee scored seven-straight points to recover from a 7-2 deficit in the early going, the Norse would put together a quick 8-0 run across a one minute span.
· The run put the Norse ahead, 15-9, with 13:30 left in the half as they claimed the largest lead for either team in the first period.
· The Panthers used a pair of triples to help out-score NKU, 8-3, over the next two minutes to come back within one point at 18-17 with 9:11 to play.
· NKU again increased its lead to six points with 6:13 left in the half but Milwaukee would gradually cut NKU’s lead to tie it up, 30-30, at halftime.
· Both teams struggled to connect to end the half, with NKU going 1-for-8 from the field while Milwaukee sunk two of its final eight attempts.
SECOND HALF SUMMARY
· The Panthers’ Brock Stull scored six points in the first three minutes of the second half to help Milwaukee open the period by building a 37-33 advantage.
· After the teams waged a back and forth battle, Milwaukee scored its seven uninterrupted points for a 48-41 lead with 10:48 left in the game.
· The Norse struggled from the field across the next five minutes, allowing Milwaukee to build a double-digit lead at 59-48 with 5:18 to play.
· A Murray triple brought the Norse back within seven with under four minutes remaining, but the Panthers would eventually build a game-high 12 point lead with just 36 seconds left.
GAME NOTES
· NKU has had four players score double figures in four of its six Horizon League contests this year.
· With his season-high mark in assists, Holland is now averaging 3.8 assists per game including 4.3 assists per League game.
· Murray’s three triples put him seventh all-time in career 3-point field goals made. He posted the 216th of his career to surpass Dennis Gagai (215).
UP NEXT
· NKU will take a week off before returning home for a pair of games starting with a Friday, Jan. 20 matchup against Oakland. Tip-off from BB&T Arena is set for 7 p.m.
Join the Uprising!
by Melissa Powell
