INDIANAPOLIS –  Tyler Sharpe and Dantez Walton each had 20 points for Northern Kentucky on Friday evening, but IUPUI defeated the Norse by a final score of 83-77. NKU falls to 18-5 overall and 8-2 in the Horizon League. The Jaguars improve to 14-9 on the season and 6-4 in league play.
 
STATS LEADERS

• Walton had a career-high 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting. He also added seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.
• Sharpe recorded 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• Drew McDonald added 14 points, six rebounds and three assists.
• Jalen Tate finished with nine points, four assists and two rebounds.

 
TURNING POINT

• Sharpe hit a three-pointer with seven seconds left to cut the IUPUI lead to four points, 81-77. The Jaguars knocked down two free throws in the final seconds to get the 83-77 win.

 
FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• The Norse took a 14-9 lead at the first media timeout.
• NKU started the game 6-of-9 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from behind the arc.
• The Norse built their lead to 10 points, 25-15, with 10:32 to play in the half.
• In the last 10:05 of the half, IUPUI outscored NKU 28-9 to take a 43-34 lead into halftime.  
• NKU shot 10-of-23 (43.5 percent), while IUPUI went 18-of-32 (56.3 percent) from the floor.
• Sharpe had nine points in the half, and McDonald and Tate each added seven points.

 
SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• With IUPUI leading 51-42, NKU went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to one point, 51-50, with 13:37 to play in the game.
• A few minutes later, McDonald's jumper tied the game at 58-58 with 10:22 remaining.
• However, IUPUI took the lead and extended it to nine points at 75-66 with 4:10 to go.
• The Norse battled back, cutting the lead to four points two times down the stretch but would not get any closer.
• NKU shot well in the second half, going 17-of-30 (56.7 percent) from the floor and 5-of-12 (41.7 percent) on three-pointers.
• IUPUI made 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) on field goals and 3-of-7 (42.9 percent) on three-pointer attempts. The Jaguars also shot 15-of-20 (75.0 percent) from the free throw line.

 
GAME NOTES

• The loss snaps a six-game winning streak for the Norse.
• NKU finished the game shooting 27-of-53 (50.9 percent).
• IUPUI went 29-of-56 (51.8 percent) from the field and 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) on three-point attempts.
• Each team had 40 points in the paint and 12 fast-break points.  

 
NEXT UP

• The Norse travel to UIC on Sunday, Feb. 3. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.