Langdon nets career-high 21 points, NKU uses 11-0 run in second half to ignite 75-64 win at Oakland

NKyTribune staff

ROCHESTER, Mich. — Ball movement, balanced scoring and a late 11-0 run added up to a key road victory for Northern Kentucky on Sunday.

Bryson Langdon scored a career-high 21 points to lead five Norse in double figures as NKU posted a 75-64 win over Oakland. Langdon drained four 3-pointers and dished out five assists as NKU bounced back from a Friday night loss at Detroit Mercy.

Trevon Faulkner added 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists for NKU, which improved to 10-6 overall, 2-2 in the Horizon League. The Norse shot 50 percent from the field and overcame a 50-48 deficit with less than eight minutes remaining by scoring 11 straight points.

Langdon keyed the 11-0 run with a 3-pointer, while Adrian Nelson added a pair of baskets during the spurt. Jalen Tate capped the game-changing run with a jumper off an assist from Langdon that gave NKU a 59-50 lead with 5:09 left on the clock.

Tate finished with 11 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Nelson and Adham Eleeda each netted 10 points off the bench for NKU, which defeated Oakland for the third straight time. Nelson also grabbed five rebounds, while Eleeda buried a trio of 3-pointers.

Xavier Hill-Mais led Oakland (6-10 overall, 1-2 Horizon League) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Brad Brechting added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Golden Grizzlies, who were held to 42.6 percent shooting from the field.

NKU converted 62 percent of its shots from the field in the second half. The Norse also hit 82.4 percent of their free throws after intermission.

A year ago, Oakland defeated NKU in the first meeting by a 76-74 score at the O’rena. The Norse avenged that loss at home and later knocked off the Golden Grizzlies in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament.

NKU owns a 12-11 lead in the all-time series with Oakland, including a 7-4 record in Rochester.

NKU hits the road again next weekend, beginning with a Friday night contest at Illinois-Chicago. The Norse conclude the trip with a Sunday afternoon game at IUPUI.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 75, OAKLAND 64
NORTHERN KENTUCKY (75)
Sharpe 1-10 3-4 5, Adheke 2-2 0-1 4, Faulkner 5-9 1-2 12, Langdon 5-8 7-7 21, Tate 4-10 3-5 11, Eleeda 3-5 1-2 10, Nelson 5-7 0-1 10, Harris 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 26-52 15-22 75.
OAKLAND (64)
Hill-Mais 8-16 0-1 17, Brechting 6-9 2-5 14, Kangu 0-0 0-0 0, Maddox 5-14 1-2 13, Oladapo 0-2 0-0 0, Lampman 3-11 0-0 9, Monroe 3-4 2-2 8, Pittman 1-4 0-0 3, Gettelfinger 0-1 0-0 0, Harris 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-61 5-10 64.
HALFTIME: NKU 31-29. 3-POINTERS: (NKU 8-21, OU 7-23). REBOUNDS: NKU 35 (Faulkner 7), OU 35 (Hill-Mais 8).
RECORDS: NKU 10-6, 2-2 HL; Oakland 6-10, 1-2 HL.

(Information compiled from NKU and staff reports)