YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Northern Kentucky earned the No. 8 seed in the Little Caesar's Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship after falling to Youngstown State, 94-75, at the Beeghly Center on Saturday night.
 
Cole Murray led the Norse with 13 points and a career-high-tying seven boards, a mark he set when the two squads met earlier this season.
 
Drew McDonald added 12 points and eight rebounds and Jalen Billups converted 4-of-5 shots for 10 points. He chipped in with five boards and two blocks.
 
The Norse trailed 46-29 at the break despite nine points from Todd Johnson and Billups' eight points and five rebounds.
 
A spirited Norse effort to open the second-half put them within striking distance.
 
Baskets from Jordan Garnett, Murray, Lavone Holland II and Tyler White helped NKU open the second half on a 9-3 spurt before forcing a YSU timeout. McDonald converted consecutive baskets to extend the run to 13-3 and pull within nine, 49-40, with 16 minutes left.
 
The Norse were able to get within five twice, first with Deontae Cole's trey and a then again with 10:18 remaining on a Jake Giesler jumper that put the score at 60-55.
 
Six-unanswered from the Penguins pushed the deficit back to double-figures, and YSU used the free throw line down the stretch to reach the final score.
 
The next stop for the Norse is the Motor City, Detroit, where it will play in the Little Caesar's Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship for the first time. As the eight-seed, NKU will play in the 2:30 p.m. time slot on Saturday, March 5.
 
Norse Notes

• When the two teams met on Jan. 14, Cole Murray had 11 points and seven rebounds.
• McDonald has now reached double-figures in 15 of the last 20 games.