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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Propelled by Marques Warrick's 23 points, Northern Kentucky University claimed a 73-63 victory over Wright State in a Horizon League showdown, Tuesday at BB&T Arena. The Norse (9-9, 5-4 Horizon League) shot 50.8% throughout and held the Raiders (11-9, 8-3) well below their conference-leading scoring average.
 
STATS LEADERS

• Marques Warrick scored 14 of his 23 points in the second half and went 4-for-8 from 3-point range throughout. He has scored 20 or more points in seven games, including five of the last eight.  
• Sam Vinson added 11 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block.
• Chris Brandon went 5-of-6 from the field for 10 points with six rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block.
• Trey Robinson tied a career high with eight rebounds and scored eight points.

TURNING POINT

• Tied at 61 with 5:20 left, Sam Vinson converted a jump shot and 3-pointer within 33 seconds. Marques Warrick's corner three with 1:19 left gave NKU a six-point lead and the Norse held on for the win. NKU finished the game on a 12-2 run.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• NKU emerged hot, with Marques Warrick scoring five early points en route to a 12-4 lead. The Norse's defense held Wright State to 22.2% shooting (2-for-9) in the first five minutes.
• Wright State entered the game with the Horizon League's top scoring offense (76.4 points per game) and field goal percentage (46.8%) but NKU disrupted that trend in the first 16 minutes. Grant Basile and Trey Calvin, Wright State's second and third leading scorers on the season, started a combined 0-for-9.
• Trevon Faulkner took a charge in the lane, ensuring a foul on Wright State scoring leader Tanner Holden, with 7:37 left in the first half. Trey Robinson had a steal soon after and the Norse surged ahead 30-19.
• Although Wright State went five minutes between field goals, the Raiders mounted a 7-0 run to end the half. Trey Calvin's back-to-back 3-pointers inched Wright State within one at halftime (35-34).

SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• The Raiders extended their run from one half to the next for a 38-37 lead. Chris Brandon answered with a layup to push NKU ahead in a back-and-forth outing.
• Sam Vinson's layup through traffic gave the Norse some separation. Bryson Langdon's no-look pass to Chris Brandon on a fast break layup minutes later ensured a 51-47 NKU edge.
• Adrian Nelson's 3-point play with 9:05 to go padded a 5-0 spurt for the Norse, but the Raiders capitalized on turnovers in a 7-0 run that gave them a 57-56 advantage.
• Sam Vinson unlocked a 61-all game with a jump shot, which started a 12-2 run and NKU's road to victory.

GAME NOTES

• The game featured three ties and 10 lead changes. NKU's defense was integral down the stretch, forcing Wright State to miss seven of its final eight field goal attempts.
• The Raiders had won nine of their prior 10 games before the Norse's triumph. Since its loss to Milwaukee Jan. 1, NKU has won four of its last five games.
• Wright State prevailed in the rebounding battle (39-33) and scored 10 second-chance points. NKU scored 23 points off the Raiders' 16 turnovers.
• Tanner Holden led the Raiders with 22 points and nine rebounds.

UP NEXT
Northern Kentucky continues its five-game home stand against Purdue Fort Wayne, Friday at 7 p.m. at BB&T Arena. The Norse host Cleveland State at noon Sunday.