@NKUNorseMBB succumbs to the Vikings, 58-44, on Friday night

  • NKU athletics
    NKU athletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A rough shooting night for the Northern Kentucky men’s basketball team resulted in a 58-44 loss at Horizon League-leading Cleveland State. The Norse slip to 5-5 overall and 3-2 in league play, while the Vikings move to 7-3 on the season and stay unbeaten against league competition at 7-0.

STATS LEADERS

  • Trevon Faulkner scored 17 points to lead the Norse. He added four rebounds to the case as well.
  • Adrian Nelson nabbed 11 rebounds in the game, while contributing seven points.

TURNING POINT

  • A 19-2 run early in the first half put Cleveland State ahead 21-4 with 10:22 left. The Norse closed within single digits just once the rest of the way.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

  • Cleveland State used a 10-0 run to build an early double-digit lead as Northern Kentucky struggled to score.
  • The Vikings pushed out to an 18-point, 25-7 lead with 6:46 remaining in the half.
  • The Norse rebounded before going into the break, trailing Cleveland State 34-22.
  • NKU made just 27 percent (8-of-30) of its field goals and only 15 percent (2-of-13) of its threes. CSU converted 47 percent (14-of-30) from the floor and 31 percent (4-of-13) from deep.
  • Rebounding was in favor of the Norse, 22-17, thanks to eight first-half rebounds from Adrian Nelson.
  • However, nine NKU miscues were converted into a 9-5 CSU advantage in points off turnovers.

SECOND HALF SUMMARY

  • The Norse opened the second half and quickly cut the deficit to 35-27 thanks to a David Böhm three, but CSU used an 8-0 run to go back in front by 16 and eventually pushed the lead back out to 18.
  • Northern Kentucky never threatened the rest of the way.

GAME NOTES

  • For the game, NKU made just 28 percent (17-of-61) of its shots, its lowest percentage of the season.
  • Northern Kentucky’s 22 points in each half are the team’s lowest scoring output in any half this season.
  • The Norse won the rebounding battle, 43-41.
  • Faulkner has now reached double figures in scoring in all 10 games.
  • Nelson’s double-digit rebounding effort is his seventh of the season.

 

NEXT UP

Northern Kentucky and Cleveland State head back to the hardwood for the second matchup of the series at 7 p.m. on Saturday.