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NKU Norse Keep Cruising, This Time Knocking Off Green Bay On The Road, 71-62

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Basketball

Marques Warrick scored 24 points behind a career-high six 3-pointers and Northern Kentucky completed a season sweep of Green Bay with a 71-62 victory, Friday at the Kress Center. The Norse, which also defeated the Phoenix Dec. 30 at BB&T Arena, led by as many as 18 points in the second meeting.

STATS LEADERS

  • Marques Warrick scored 24 points behind a career-high six 3-pointers. He went 9-of-14 from the field (including 6-of-9 from the perimeter) and added two steals and an assist. He has made at least one 3-pointer in 17 straight games.
  • Sam Vinson chipped in 14 points, five rebounds and two assists.
  • Bryson Langdon contributed 11 points and seven assists with just one turnover in 35 minutes. He added two steals and two rebounds.

TURNING POINT

  • After falling behind 10-9 early in the game, NKU went on a 9-2 run to assume permanent control. The Norse surged ahead by as many as 18 points with 9:29 remaining and thwarted the Phoenix's comeback attempts.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

  • Sam Vinson converted a free-throw 28 seconds into play and delivered a 3-pointer that gave NKU a 9-5 edge by the first media timeout.
  • Green Bay parlayed a 5-0 spurt into its only lead of the game, but NKU answered with four straight points – layups by Marques Warrick and Adrian Nelson – to vault ahead. NKU outscored the Phoenix 9-2 after trailing 10-9.
  • Marques Warrick scored eight of NKU's first 16 points and had a team-high 13 first-half points. Warrick went 5-of-8 including a 3-of-6 mark from long range.
  • NKU led by as many as nine points in the first half, but Green Bay chipped away at its deficit. Nate Jenkins' five straight points made it a one-possession game with 1:11 left.
  • Trey Robinson's free throws with 2.1 seconds left ensured NKU'a 30-25 halftime edge. The Norse, known for their offensive rebounding, had just one offensive board in the first half. Green Bay had four.

SECOND HALF SUMMARY

  • The Norse stretched their lead to 10 on a 6-0 spurt featuring a Bryson Langdon layup, two Chris Brandon free throws and a Sam Vinson hook shot. Green Bay went more than three minutes without scoring.
  • NKU held Green Bay to 11.1% scoring in the first seven minutes of the second half. Green Bay missed eight of its first nine field goal attempts.
  • The Norse feasted on turnovers en route to an 18-point lead with 9:29 to play. Green Bay responded with a 9-2 run and pulled within seven on Nate Jenkins' free throw with 1:38 left, but came no closer.  
  • With Marques Warrick's jumper, the Norse outscored Green Bay 8-5 the rest of the way.
  • The Norse sizzled when it came to second-half shooting: 59.1% from the field, 50% from the perimeter and 92.3% from the free-throw line.

GAME NOTES

  • NKU (14-10, 10-5 Horizon League) claimed a second straight win in its five-game road swing and dealt Green Bay (4-20, 3-12) a seventh consecutive loss.
  • NKU entered the game ranked 11th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (13.5) but was held to five. Green Bay amassed 13 offensive rebounds and won the overall rebounding battle 26-23.
  • The Norse outscored Green Bay 23-6 in points off turnovers.
  • NKU finished with eight steals, led by Chris Brandon's season-high three.

UP NEXT
Northern Kentucky plays the third leg of a five-game road swing at Wright State at noon Sunday.