Northern Kentucky University won the Horizon League Conference Championship against Cleveland State University with a score of 63-61 on March 7, 2023, at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Northern Kentucky University started strong in the first half, leading 33-30 against Cleveland State University. However, Cleveland State came back in the second half and outscored Northern Kentucky by one point, with a final score of 31-30. Unfortunately, it was not enough for them to secure the win.
Leading Northern Kentucky’s strong performance were their top three players, Marques Warrick, Sam Vinson, and Trey Robinson. Warrick was the team’s top scorer with 18 points, going 3-of-12 from the field, including 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block.
Vinson also played a crucial role for Northern Kentucky, scoring 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. He added 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists to his stat line, showcasing his all-around ability on the court.
Robinson contributed 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks to Northern Kentucky’s victory. He shot 5-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, and did not attempt any free throws.
Throughout the game, both teams had similar shooting percentages. Northern Kentucky shot 41.2% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc, while Cleveland State shot 42.1% from the field and 47.1% from three-point range.
The game was intense, with both teams tied 12 times and the lead changing 14 times. Northern Kentucky had 12 second-chance points and 21 points off turnovers, while Cleveland State had 15 second-chance points and only 7 points off turnovers.
