20161130_MBB_Morehead_MBB_McDonald139_Plug
Bryan McEldowney
84
Winner N. Kentucky NKU 4-3
79
Morehead State MORM 2-4
Winner
N. Kentucky NKU
4-3
84
Final
79
Morehead State MORM
2-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
N. Kentucky NKU 37 47 84
Morehead State MORM 39 40 79

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

McDonald continues stellar play, leads @NKUNorseMBB past Eagles

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Drew McDonald posted his fourth double-double of the year to push Northern Kentucky past Morehead State in the final minute for an 84-79 victory. The win puts NKU at 4-3 overall, while MSU slides to 2-4.
 
STATS LEADERS 
  • McDonald dropped a career- and game-high 32 points to go along with a game-best 11 boards.
  • He shot a blistering 12-of-14 from the floor, including a 3-for-4 outing beyond 3-point territory.
  • Jalen Tate chipped in a career-high 13 points, as five Norse reached double-figures.
  • Lavone Holland II, who dished out six assists, and Cole Murray each added 12 points.
  • Carson Williams chipped in 11 points on the strength of 7-for-7 free-throw shooting.
  • Jordan Garnett grabbed eight rebounds, a career-high.
 
TURNING POINT
  • McDonald powered for a lay-up with exactly one-minute left on the clock. That basket gave the Norse a one-point advantage they wouldn't relinquish. NKU closed the game at the charity stripe.
 
FIRST-HALF SUMMARY
  • NKU trailed, 39-37, at the break despite a 14-point effort from McDonald in the half.
  • McDonald converted 6-of-7 shots, including 2-of-3 from deep. His efforts helped the Norse shoot 46 percent in the opening stanza, but Morehead converted 53 percent.
  • Garnett corralled six boards to pace an NKU team that held a 20-14 advantage on the glass.
  • Williams was active on the glass and Tate was aggressive in getting to the basket early. Each player scored five of NKU's first 10 points and helped the Norse build a four-point cushion.
  • A 10-3 run for the Eagles pushed them in front with eight-minutes left in the half.
 
SECOND-HALF SUMMARY
  • The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with the lead changing hands 11 times and the score being tied four others.
  • The Norse outscored the Eagles, 47-40 in the second stanza, with Holland adding nine points and four assists.
  • Trailing by two, 78-76, with 2:20 left to play, NKU closed the game outscoring Morehead State, 8-1.
  • McDonald registered 18 points and seven rebounds in the second-half alone.
  • Holland had nine points and four assists in the half. He was very disruptive on defense over the final two minutes.
 
GAME NOTES
  • McDonald has now reached the 20-point plateau in five-straight games, the longest stretch for a Norse in at least the last 10 seasons.
  • The sophomore has also recorded double-doubles in four of the last five games. He's now averaging 20.9 ppg and 8.9 rpg.
  • NKU is over .500 for the third time both this season and in the Division I era.
  • Five Norse reached double-figures for the second time this year. NKU improved to 4-0 on the year when at least three players reach double-digits.
  • Northern Kentucky shot 52 percent for the game, while Morehead State connected on 50 percent.
  • NKU won the battle of the boards for the sixth time in the first seven games, outrebounding MSU, 34-27.
 
NEXT UP
  • Norfolk State is on tap for Northern Kentucky, which stays on the road for the second contest in a stretch that sees the team traveling for 3-of-4 games. NKU is 1-0 all-time versus NSU after dropping the Spartans, 81-60, at BB&T Arena last year.
 
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