HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team defeated Horizon League-leading Valparaiso 82-78 on Sunday afternoon at BB&T Arena. In the process, the Norse guaranteed at least a share of third-place in the league standings.
 
The victory moves NKU to 21-10 on the year, including a 12-6 mark in league play. Valpo slips to 24-7 and 14-4 in the Horizon. Seniors Cole Murray, Matt Rosenwinkel and Dean Danos were honored in a pregame ceremony.
 
STATS LEADERS

• Drew McDonald converted 8-of-13 field goal attempts and made all six free throws en route to a team-high 23 points. He added a game-high six rebounds.
• Lavone Holland II was just shy of an unconventional double-double, finishing with 17 points and nine assists. The nine assists tie his career-mark.
• Carson Williams was the beneficiary of multiple Holland assists. He was 5-of-7 from the floor and 7-of-7 at the charity stripe in his 17-point effort.

 
TURNING POINT

• Valparaiso took its first and only lead of the game with 12:39 left in the second half. Holland answered with a three for the Norse.
• Derrik Smitz knotted the game at 58-all on the game's next possession, but Murray responded with his third three of the game to put NKU ahead for good.
• NKU's last field goal of the game was a turnaround jumper from McDonald with just over a minute remaining. That bucket put the Norse ahead five and NKU went 6-for-6 down the stretch at the line to seal the win.

 
FIRST-HALF SUMMARY

• Jordan Garnett started the game with an emphatic dunk on NKU's second possession and the Norse never trailed in the opening half.
• Jeff Garrett scored four-straight points to put the Norse ahead, 16-6, which was the largest lead of the game for either team.
• Northern Kentucky led 40-37 at intermission thanks to blistering shooting on offensive. NKU shot 64 percent (14-of-22) from the floor, despite just shooting 14.3 percent (1-of-7) from three.  Valpo converted just 44 percent (12-of-27) in the first half.
• Williams had 13 in the stanza and McDonald added 12.

 
SECOND-HALF SUMMARY

• The Norse continued their torrid shooting in the second half, making 52 percent (12-of-23) from the floor and 58 percent (7-of-12) from three.
• There were four ties and just two lead changes in the second half, but NKU responded after the final lead change. The first bucket was Murray's three.
• NKU's lead reached as much as eight points, 69-61, with six minutes remaining and the Norse led the rest of the way.

 
GAME NOTES

• The Norse are guaranteed at least a tie for third-place in the Horizon League. A loss from Green Bay in its game Sunday afternoon gives NKU sole possession of third.
• Northern Kentucky shot 58 percent (26-of-45) for the game, marking the best shooting performance any team has put up against Valpo's defense this year.
• NKU won the rebounding battle (28-27) for the 24^th time, improving to 19-5 in such games.
• NKU moved to 17-3 on the season when a player reaches at least 20 points in the win column. McDonald's 23-point effort was the 25^th time a Norse put up at least 20 points.
• Northern Kentucky is also 13-0 when scoring 80 or more points and 18-4 when posting at least 70.

 
NEXT UP

• The Norse await their seeding for Motor City Madness, the Horizon League's postseason tournament. NKU has already solidified either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed and will play on Sunday, March 5 in Detroit.