ROCHESTER, Mich. – Northern Kentucky dropped a 76-63 decision to Oakland on the road in Horizon League men's basketball action on New Year's Eve. The loss moved the Norse to 10-5 on the year and 1-1 in League play. Oakland improved to 12-3 overall, including 2-0 in the league.
 
STATS LEADERS

• Carson Williams and Lavone Holland II led NKU with 14 points apiece. Holland also dished out a game-high six assists.
• Drew McDonald recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 boards.
• Mason Faulkner added 10 points for the first double-figure scoring output of his career.
• Four Oakland players also reached double-figures, paced by Martez Walker's game-high 21.

 
TURNING POINT

• A 15-1 run from Oakland over a span of four minutes in the second half proved to be the difference.

 
FIRST-HALF SUMMARY

• Williams scored the first six points of the game en route to 10 points in the half.
• NKU led for nearly 12 minutes of the opening stanza, aided by seven-straight points from Holland and Faulkner to put the Norse up 15-12.
• The largest lead from both teams in the half was five, as the score was tied six times and the lead changed hands 15 times.
• The Norse shot 45 percent (14-of-31), while the Golden Grizzlies converted 36 percent (12-of-33).

 
SECOND-HALF SUMMARY

• The Norse scored the first four points of the second half, but Oakland used a 15-1 run to take a 10-point lead, 50-40.
• NKU was able to get the game within five points three times. The first came just moments after Oakland's big run and was capped by an alley-oop dunk served to Holland by Cole Murray. The second and third came within a few possessions of one another with just under five minutes to play.
• NKU shot 40 percent (12-of-30) and Oakland made 44 percent (15-of-34) in the second.

 
GAME NOTES

• Northern Kentucky was outrebounded for the first time this season, losing the battle of the boards, 44-32.
• This also marks the first time all year NKU has lost a game when four or more players reach double-digits. The team came in at 5-0 in those games.

 
NEXT UP

• Northern Kentucky returns to BB&T Arena to open the home portion of its Horizon League schedule. Youngstown State comes to Highland Heights, Kentucky, for a Thursday evening showdown, which is part of a double-header with the women's basketball. Tip for the men's game is slated for 7:30 p.m.

  
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