HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A pair of double-doubles from Drew McDonald and Jalen Tate combined with a strong second-half showing led Northern Kentucky men's basketball team defeated Milwaukee on Saturday evening by a final score of 73-60. The Norse improve to 18-4 overall and 8-1 in the Horizon League. The Panthers fall to 9-13 on the season and 4-5 in league play.
 
STATS LEADERS

• McDonald recorded his 11^th double-double of the season with 30 points and 13 rebounds. He added four assists.
• Tate had his first-career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. His 10 rebounds were a career-high. He also recorded five assists and a steal.
• Dantez Walton chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.
• Tyler Sharpe also reached double figures with 10 points.

 
TURNING POINT

• The Norse outscored Milwaukee 18-2 to begin the second half to take a 48-36 lead. NKU led by double digits the rest of the way.

 
FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• The first half featured five ties and four lead changes.
• Milwaukee took a 34-30 lead into halftime.
• McDonald recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds in the half.
• The Norse held Milwaukee to 13-of-35 (37.1 percent) shooting, but the Panthers were able to go 6-of-10 (60 percent) from behind the arc.
• NKU shot 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) in the half.

 
SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• The Norse started the second half on an 8-0 run to take a 38-34 lead. Walton kicked it off with a layup and Tate and Sharpe each knocked down a three-pointer.
• After a Milwaukee basket, NKU scored 10-straight points to jump out to a 48-36 lead. McDonald had eight points in the run.
• The Norse went ahead by 20 points, 64-44, with 7:47 remaining in the contest.
• Milwaukee used a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 11 points at 64-53 with 3:52 to play.
• The Panthers never got closer than 10 points down the stretch, and NKU went on to win by a final score of 73-60.
• NKU outscored Milwaukee 43-26 in the half.
• The Norse shot 14-of-25 (56.0 percent) on field goals in the half, including a 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) performance from behind the arc.
• NKU held Milwaukee to 11-of-30 (36.7 percent) shooting in the half and 2-of-12 (16.7%) on three-point attempts.

 
GAME NOTES

• It was the first time NKU had two players record a double-double in the same game since March 3, 2018.
• NKU is 13-0 when at least one player records a double-double.
• The Norse had 18 assists on 24 made field goals.
• NKU shot 24-of-54 (44.4 percent) from the floor and 12-of-24 (50.0 percent) on three-point attempts.
• Milwaukee went 24-of-65 (36.9 percent) on field goals and 8-of-22 on three-point attempts. Northern Kentucky has held 11 of its 22 opponents below 40 percent shooting.
• NKU is now 13-0 at BB&T Arena this season, and the Norse have won 17-straight games in Highland Heights dating back to last season.

 
NEXT UP

• The Norse travel to IUPUI on Friday, Feb. 1. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.