By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter
Unlike a year ago at this time, Northern Kentucky University is headed to the semifinals of the Horizon League’s “Motor City Madness.” But it wasn’t easy.
NKU advanced to the semifinals with a 99-88 win over Detroit Mercy on Wednesday night at BB&T Arena. The Norse — who were upset in the Horizon League Tournament quarterfinals last season by Cleveland State — shot 55.9 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes to rally from a 47-40 halftime deficit and improved to 24-8.
Top-seeded Wright State plays No. 4 seed Green Bay in the other semifinal at 7 p.m. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. on March 12, with the winner receiving an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Trevon Faulkner added a career-high 20 points for NKU, while Drew McDonald scored 19. Faulkner also defended Detroit Mercy scoring machine Antoine Davis, who was just 11-for-29 from the field en route to finishing with 30 points.
“I was challenged at halftime by my teammates and coaches,” Faulkner said. “It wasn’t really about my offense. My main job was to stop Davis. That’s what they challenged me about.”
Davis, the Horizon League Freshman of the Year, entered Wednesday’s first-round contest averaging 26 points per game and had already set an NCAA all-time freshman record for 3-pointers made, shattering the previous mark established by current NBA star Stephen Curry.
“I did challenge Trevon at halftime because I didn’t think he brought it the first half the way he’s capable of,” NKU head coach John Brannen said. “Trevon didn’t make the (Horizon League) All-Defensive Team, which is highway robbery, but he’s an outstanding defender who also stepped up and made big offensive plays tonight.
“Trevon is a guy who scored more than 3,000 points in high school, so he can score. It’s just right now on this team, he’s needed to do other things. But that’s just another example of buy-in and a guy stepping up. He brought something to the table in this game that he doesn’t do every night, and I’m sure glad he did.”
Chris Vogt chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds for NKU, which defeated Detroit Mercy (11-20) for the third time this season. Jalen Tate dished out a career-high 10 assists, while Dantez Walton added six points and five assists.
Detroit Mercy used a 14-0 run in the first half to build a 28-16 lead after a basket by Davis. Josh McFolley poured in 18 of his 24 points before intermission as the Titans settled for a 47-40 advantage at the break.
NKU opened the second half with a 12-2 run, capped by a Faulkner basket, to take a 52-49 lead. The Norse eventually stretched that advantage to as many as 16 points.
NKU is now 8-1 all-time against Detroit Mercy and owns a seven-game winning streak in the series. The Norse finished with 28 assists on 36 made field goals and committed just eight turnovers against the Detroit Mercy zone defense.
Detroit Mercy — which drained 10 shots from 3-point range in the first half — finished 14-for-35 from beyond the arc. The seventh-seeded Titans shot 46.2 percent from the field and lost the rebounding battle by a 38-32 margin.
McDonald, who was named Horizon League Player of the Year on Tuesday, added five rebounds and three assists in his final game at BB&T Arena. The Cold Spring native, who missed a game last week due to back spasms, appeared to be in discomfort at times Wednesday night but still played 29 minutes.
“It’s tournament play now. Bumps and bruises don’t matter, it’s just about wins and losses,” said McDonald, who is one of five active players in Division I basketball with at least 2,000 career points and 1,000 career boards. “I just wanted to do everything I could for my team out there tonight.
“I didn’t want to get emotional. It’s tournament play and you live in every possession. You can’t look back now.”
Don Owen’s NKU Men’s Basketball coverage has been exceptional this year. Quick and well written.
Go Don. Go NKU!