Drew McDonald posted his fourth double-double of the year to push Northern Kentucky past Morehead State in the final minute for an 84-79 victory Wednesday. The win puts NKU at 4-3 overall, while MSU slides to 2-4.
McDonald dropped a career- and game-high 32 points to go along with a game-best 11 boards. He shot a blistering 12-of-14 from the floor, including a 3-for-4 outing beyond 3-point territory.
Jalen Tate chipped in a career-high 13 points, as five Norse reached double-figures. Lavone Holland II, who dished out six assists, and Cole Murray each added 12 points. Carson Williams chipped in 11 points on the strength of 7-for-7 free-throw shooting.
Jordan Garnett grabbed eight rebounds, a career-high.
McDonald powered for a lay-up with exactly one-minute left on the clock. That basket gave the Norse a one-point advantage they wouldn’t relinquish. NKU closed the game at the charity stripe.
NKU trailed, 39-37, at the break despite a 14-point effort from McDonald in the half. McDonald converted 6-of-7 shots, including 2-of-3 from deep. His efforts helped the Norse shoot 46 percent in the opening stanza, but Morehead converted 53 percent.
Garnett corralled six boards to pace an NKU team that held a 20-14 advantage on the glass.
Williams was active on the glass and Tate was aggressive in getting to the basket early. Each player scored five of NKU’s first 10 points and helped the Norse build a four-point cushion.
A 10-3 run for the Eagles pushed them in front with eight-minutes left in the half.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with the lead changing hands 11 times and the score being tied four others.
The Norse outscored the Eagles, 47-40 in the second stanza, with Holland adding nine points and four assists.
Trailing by two, 78-76, with 2:20 left to play, NKU closed the game outscoring Morehead State, 8-1.
McDonald registered 18 points and seven rebounds in the second-half alone. Holland had nine points and four assists in the half. He was very disruptive on defense over the final two minutes.
GAME NOTES
— McDonald has now reached the 20-point plateau in five-straight games, the longest stretch for a Norse in at least the last 10 seasons.
— The sophomore has also recorded double-doubles in four of the last five games. He’s now averaging 20.9 ppg and 8.9 rpg.
NKU is over .500 for the third time both this season and in the Division I era.
— Five Norse reached double-figures for the second time this year. NKU improved to 4-0 on the year when at least three players reach double-digits.
— Northern Kentucky shot 52 percent for the game, while Morehead State connected on 50 percent.
— NKU won the battle of the boards for the sixth time in the first seven games, outrebounding MSU, 34-27.
NEXT UP
Norfolk State is on tap for Northern Kentucky, which stays on the road for the second contest in a stretch that sees the team traveling for 3-of-4 games. NKU is 1-0 all-time versus NSU after dropping the Spartans, 81-60, at BB&T Arena last year.
From NKU Athletics