INDIANAPOLIS – The Northern Kentucky men's basketball program advanced to the Horizon League Championship after a 75-63 win over No. 1 seed Youngstown State in the league's semifinal match on Monday night inside the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
With Monday's victory, the Norse sit just a game away from advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The win also gets NKU to its fifth championship game since joining the Horizon in 2015.
It is also the fourth time in the past five years the Norse have advanced to the league's championship game.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 75, Youngstown State – 63
LOCATION: Indiana Farmers Coliseum – Indianapolis, Indiana
RECORDS: NKU 21-12 (14-6 HL), YSU 21-12 (14-6 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Marques Warrick paced the Norse attack with 22 points to go with a board and a steal. With the scoring outburst, Warrick moved into second all-time in school history for most points in a season with 632 points scored with at least one game left to play this year. Warrick trails NKU record holder Derek Field by just 32 points for most scored in a single campaign all-time. Warrick has gone for 22 points in back-to-back games and has hit the 20-plus plateau 15 times this season. It was also the Lexington, Ky. native's 30th game with double-digit points on the season.
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Chris Brandon was an absolute force on the glass as he pulled down 17 rebounds to go with eight points and two helpers. With the performance, Brandon has now grabbed 324 boards this year, a new school best in a single-season all-time.
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Sam Vinson was once again all over the court as he posted 17 points along with six rebounds, two assists and a steal.
- Xaiver Rhodes stepped up his offensive game with 12 points, two boards and a game-best three steals.
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Trevon Faulkner (nine points, one rebound) and
Trey Robinson (seven points, four boards, two blocks, an assist and a steal) also contributed for the Norse.
HOW IT HAPPENED
HIGHLIGHTS
POST GAME PRESSER
NEXT UP
It all comes down to this as Northern Kentucky will take on Cleveland State in the Horizon League Championship on Tuesday, March 8 at 7 PM ET inside the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The game will get the national spotlight on ESPN and can be heard anywhere in the country on ESPN 1530.
FOLLOW NKU NORSE MEN'S BASKETBALL
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I college basketball team through
@NKUNorseMBB on Twitter,
@nkunorsembb on Instagram,
nkunorsembb on Facebook and
subscribe to the NKU Norse Youtube channel.
