Box Score (PDF)

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team equaled its highest win total in the Division I era with an 82-57 win over Stetson on Saturday night at The Bank of Kentucky Center.
 
Tayler Persons recorded his first-career double-double, netting 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds to lead the Norse. Tyler White added 14 points and Todd Johnson picked up 12 second-half points to pace a Norse offense that saw 11 different players in the scorebook.
 
With the win, NKU improved to 11-14 overall and leveled its Atlantic Sun Conference record at 5-5 on the season. The loss set Stetson back to 8-18 overall and 2-8 in conference play.
 
As a team, the Norse shot 49.2 percent (31-for-63) from the floor and were a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. NKU dominated the glass on both ends, outrebounding the Hatters, 41-29.
 
The Norse opened the game on a torrid shooting pace, knocking down seven of their first eight shots to race out to a 16-7 lead in the game's first five minutes, including a 3-for-4 effort from Tayler Persons. The hot shooting continued as the Norse strung together a 9-0 run to extend the lead to double digits at 23-9 with 13 minutes to go.
 
The Hatters climbed back into the game on the strength of a 13-4 run, which was opened on back-to-back field goals from Grant Lozoya and capped by a Kentwan Smith dunk to cut the Norse lead to five at 27-22 with 5:29 left until intermission.
 
NKU responded quickly, scoring five points in the span of 45 seconds to get the lead back to double digits and spur a 15-3 run to end the half and give the Norse a 42-25 lead going into the locker room.
 
Todd Johnson hit back-to-back treys to open the Norse scoring in the second half and spark an 8-0 run to push the Norse advantage over 20 points at 50-29. The Norse continued to expand its lead, scoring on a string of eight-consecutive made field goals in the second stanza to push the lead as high as 31 points halfway through the second half.
 
Lozoya finished with a team-high 16 points for the Hatters, while Smith added 14 points.
 
The Black and Gold has a three-game road trip to look forward to, beginning Thursday at Jacksonville. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., with the action available on ESPN 1530 AM. Fans can catch live updates and interact with the Norse by following @NKUNorseGameDay on Twitter.