By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter
Just like his mother did two decades earlier, Northern Kentucky University’s Drew McDonald is drawing plenty of attention from opposing defenses.
During Thursday night’s 54-52 win over Milwaukee at BB&T Arena, McDonald had to deal with an assortment of double-teams and sagging defenses employed by the Panthers. The junior forward still notched his 12th double-double of the season (16 points, 10 rebounds) and came up with a huge block at the buzzer to seal NKU’s victory.
While it remains to be seen if McDonald is selected as the Horizon League Player of the Year, the Newport Central Catholic graduate has excelled against every type of defense this season. He enters Saturday’s game against visiting Green Bay as NKU’s leading scorer (17.1 points per game) and rebounder (9.0 rpg).
“Film study and the coaches had a great [scouting report], so we were prepared,” McDonald said of beating the double-team defenses used by Milwaukee. “We adjusted, read the defense and try to find the open man. I trust my teammates, so just get them the ball and they’ll make the best decisions.”
McDonald collected a pair of key assists Thursday night by finding open teammates for wide-open shots. Both of those assists came during NKU’s crucial second-half run, and each occurred as Milwaukee ran an extra defender to double down on the 6-foot-7 McDonald.
Green Bay enters Saturday with 10-17 overall record after watching Wright State rally from an 11-point deficit in the second half Thursday night to post a 68-64 win over the Phoenix at Dayton Ohio. Green Bay is 5-9 in the Horizon League.
Sandy Cohen III scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Green Bay against Wright State. David Jesperson drained four 3-pointers and finished with 18 points for the Phoenix.
Senior guard Khalil Small leads Green Bay in both scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg), while Cohen averages 14.2 ppg. Kameron Hankerson averages 9.8 ppg, and Jesperson is scoring 7.5 ppg.
In the first meeting this season, NKU built a 19-point lead early in the second half and held off a late Green Bay rally for a 77-65 road win. Lavone Holland II led NKU with 16 points, including a trio of clutch baskets in the second half after Green Bay had cut the Norse lead to single digits.
Holland netted two consecutive buckets late in the game that extended a five-point NKU advantage to 65-56 with 4:31 remaining. McDonald added 15 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Saturday will also be NKU’s 2018 homecoming game and a large crowd is expected at BB&T Arena. The homecoming weekend serves as the kickoff for a year-long celebration of NKU’s 50th anniversary.
WHAT: Green Bay (10-17, 5-9 HL) at Northern Kentucky (18-7, 11-2 HL)
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Highland Heights, Ky.
ARENA: BB&T Arena (9,400 capacity)
RADIO: Fox Sports 1360
TELEVISION: CW Cincinnati (Channel 12.2)
SERIES: Green Bay leads, 3-2
Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport