HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky men's basketball team moves to 1-0 in Horizon League play after besting the Penguins of Youngstown State in a Saturday matchup at BB&T Arena. The Norse capitalize on their shooting to win, 79-64. NKU improves to 3-3 on the season, while YSU drops its first game on the year and shifts to 3-1.  

STATS LEADERS

• Marques Warrick notches a new career-high in scoring with 18 points. The freshman previously dropped 14 points against Ball State on Nov. 25. Warrick shot 7-of-9 (78 percent) from the field, going 3-of-5 (60 percent) from three. He added five rebounds, which also ties his personal best in the black and gold.  
• Senior Adham Eleeda was feeling the money ball through the duration of the game, knocking down six on seven attempts (86 percent). Eleeda earned himself a new career-high with 18 points, all tallied from three-point range. He was one make shy of tying NKU's three-point percentage record, most recently recorded by Cole Murray with his display of near-perfection against UIC on Jan. 22, 2016 shooting 7-of-8 (88 percent) from beyond the arc.
• Bryson Langdon dropped another double-figure scoring effort for the Norse, adding 12 points under his name. Langdon added three rebounds and two assists on his afternoon.  
• Trevon Faulkner was the fourth Norse to add double-digit scoring with 11 points on 5-of-8 (63 percent) shooting. Faulkner filled the stat sheet with four rebounds, four assists and two steals.

TURNING POINT

• NKU used a 7-0 run beginning at the 15:48 minute mark in the second half to claim an 11-point lead over YSU. The run was initiated by a three-pointer from Langdon and the Norse used the lift to stay ahead for the remainder of the competition.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• The Norse fired first to start the game with a 5-0 run, both buckets from Langdon and Warrick assisted by Böhm.
• YSU was quick to respond and put NKU in a scoring drought for the next five minutes and 29 seconds. In that time, the Penguins managed to put 10 points on the scoreboard.
• Eleeda sparked a retaliation of his own, knocking down a three to end the scoreless spurt for the Norse. The senior hit back-to-back threes and the Norse eventually reclaimed the lead, 16-15, thanks to Eleeda's third three in the half at the 8:40 mark. He tallied four total at the half's end on an 80 percent clip.
• The Norse and Penguins played the remainder of the first half in an even battle. Warrick hit back-to-back threes to give the Norse the 34-31 advantage headed into the locker room.
• NKU went 7-for-17 (41 percent) from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes of play, putting the Norse at one shy of its game high for three-point field goals made on the season.

SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• NKU opened up the game early in the second half due to a 7-0 run that gave the Norse an 11-point advantage. The Norse maintained control of the game from that run until the final buzzer.   
• The Norse shot an impressive 63 percent (17-of-27) from the field, marking the team's highest field goal percentage in a half for the year.
• The battle of the boards was even despite NKU shooting 30-of-55 (55 percent) from the field on the night. Both teams reeled in 35 rebounds with the Norse securing 11 on the offensive and 24 on the defensive.  

GAME NOTES

• Eleeda's first four scoring attempts for the game were from deep range; he connected on all four. The senior shot at a 100 percent clip until the 2:01 mark in the first half. His four threes tied his career-high for most made three's in a game, making his six on the night a personal best.
• Adrian Nelson passed Craig Sanders on NKU's all-time rebounding list with his 10 boards against YSU. Nelson now sits at 47^th all-time in career-boards.
• The nine three-pointers poured in by the Norse marks a season-best. NKU previously knocked down eight three-balls versus Ball State.
• NKU locked down on the defensive end, forcing YSU to go 21-of-60 (35 percent) from the field and 3-of-18 (17 percent) from three.  

 
UP NEXT
Northern Kentucky faces Youngstown State for another round of basketball at BB&T Arena tomorrow, Dec. 20, in a 3 p.m. nationally televised contest on ESPN2. Coverage will also be available on radio at ESPN1530 (1530AM).