The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team equaled its highest win total in the Division I era with an 82-57 win over Stetson on Saturday night at The Bank of Kentucky Center.
Tayler Persons recorded his first-career double-double, netting 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds to lead the Norse. Tyler White added 14 points and Todd Johnson picked up 12 second-half points to pace a Norse offense that saw 11 different players in the scorebook.
With the win, NKU improved to 11-14 overall and leveled its Atlantic Sun Conference record at 5-5 on the season. The loss set Stetson back to 8-18 overall and 2-8 in conference play.
As a team, the Norse shot 49.2 percent (31-for-63) from the floor and were a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. NKU dominated the glass on both ends, outrebounding the Hatters, 41-29.
The Norse opened the game on a torrid shooting pace, knocking down seven of their first eight shots to race out to a 16-7 lead in the game’s first five minutes, including a 3-for-4 effort from Tayler Persons. The hot shooting continued as the Norse strung together a 9-0 run to extend the lead to double digits at 23-9 with 13 minutes to go.
The Hatters climbed back into the game on the strength of a 13-4 run, which was opened on back-to-back field goals from Grant Lozoya and capped by a Kentwan Smith dunk to cut the Norse lead to five at 27-22 with 5:29 left until intermission.
NKU responded quickly, scoring five points in the span of 45 seconds to get the lead back to double digits and spur a 15-3 run to end the half and give the Norse a 42-25 lead going into the locker room.
Todd Johnson hit back-to-back treys to open the Norse scoring in the second half and spark an 8-0 run to push the Norse advantage over 20 points at 50-29. The Norse continued to expand its lead, scoring on a string of eight-consecutive made field goals in the second stanza to push the lead as high as 31 points halfway through the second half.
Lozoya finished with a team-high 16 points for the Hatters, while Smith added 14 points.
The Black and Gold has a three-game road trip to look forward to, beginning Thursday at Jacksonville. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., with the action available on ESPN 1530 AM.
NKU women fall to Stetson
Myeisha Hall and Sarah Sagerer combined for 32 points to lead the Stetson University women’s basketball team to a 73-56 victory over Northern Kentucky University on Saturday in Atlantic Sun Conference action from the Edmunds Center.
Sagerer finished with 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the floor, six rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists to lead the way for Stetson, which improved to 18-6 overall and 7-3 in the Atlantic Sun. Hall added 16 points, including four 3-pointers, two assists and one block. Brianti Saunders and Jama Sharp each posted 14-point, seven-rebound performances for the Hatters, who shot 44.6 percent (25-for-56) from the field and 11-for-22 from 3-point range.
Melody Doss led NKU, which fell to 14-11 on the year and 5-5 in the conference, with 15 points and three rebounds. Faith Sanders added a career-high 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the floor, including a trio of 3-pointers, and five rebounds. Shar’Rae Davis rounded out the double figure scorers for the Norse with 11 points, going 4-for-6 from the floor, and five rebounds.
NKU returns to The Bank of Kentucky Center on Feb. 19 for Think Pink Night against Jacksonville at 7 p.m. to kick off a three-game homestand. Fans will receive discounted admission when they wear their pink apparel.
Two days later, NKU will take a trip down memory lane as the Norse welcome North Florida to Regents Hall for Throwback Night. The contest is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m., and it will also be Girl Scout Night, where scouts in uniform will receive free admission. Fans are asked to park in Lot T, which is the tiered lot located off University Drive, at no charge.
From NKU Athletics