TULSA, Okla. – The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team fell to No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday by a final score of 72-57. NKU finishes the season with a 26-9 record. Texas Tech moves to 27-6 on the year and advances to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
STATS LEADERS

• Tyler Sharpe led the Norse with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He went 4-of-7 from the three-point line, and 3-of-3 from behind the arc.
• Dantez Walton finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
• Tate contributed six points, six assists and three rebounds.
• Adrian Nelson added six points and eight rebounds, tying his career-high for boards.

 
TURNING POINT

• The Red Raiders used an 8-0 run in the second half to go ahead 47-34 with 14:14 to play in the game. NKU was unable to overcome the deficit down the stretch.

 
FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• Texas Tech jumped out to a 6-0 lead early in the game, but NKU battled back to tie the contest at 8-8 with 14:04 to play in the half.
• Sharpe hit a three-pointer to give NKU a 13-12 lead with 11:22 to play. Texas Tech then went on an 8-0 run to take a 20-13 lead.
• NKU responded with a five-straight points from Tyler Sharpe to cut the deficit to three, 25-22, with 2:33 left in the half.
• Texas Tech took a 30-26 lead into halftime.
• NKU went 11-of-30 (36.7 percent) on field goals in the half.
• The Red Raiders shot 13-of-25 (52.5 percent) from floor.
• The Norse had a 21-16 advantage in rebounds during the half.
• Sharpe led the Norse with 10 points in the stanza.

 
SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• An 8-0 run pushed the Texas Tech lead to 47-34 with 14:14 to play.
• The Norse scored five-straight points to make the score 60-48 with 6:59 to play. Tate made a layup, and Walton knocked down a three-pointer.
• Texas Tech pushed their lead to 20 points with 2:36 to go.
• NKU recorded the final five points of the game, but Texas Tech went on to win 72-57.
• The Norse shot 12-of-32 (37.5 percent) on field goals.
• Texas Tech finished the half shooting 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) from the floor, but just 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) on three-point attempts.
• NKU outrebounded Texas Tech in the half, 18-15.

 
GAME NOTES

• Sharpe had his seventh 20-point game of the season.
• NKU went 23-of-62 (37.1 percent) on field goals in the game.
• Texas Tech shot 28-of-53 (52.8 percent) from the floor.
• NKU had a 39-31 advantage in rebounds, including a 12-2 advantage in offensive rebounds.
• Drew McDonald finishes his collegiate career with 2,066 points and 1,081 rebounds. He is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in NKU history.