HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University Norse men's basketball faced off against the University of the Cumberlands on Sunday afternoon, battling the Patriots after a pair of losses in Tennessee over their past two games. The Norse powered past the Patriots with a strong defensive effort in the first half and a 59-point second half. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky - 101, Cumberlands - 73
LOCATION: Truist Arena - Highland Heights, Ky. 
RECORDS: Northern Kentucky: 2-2 | Cumberlands: 8-0 (exhibition)

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- The Norse shot a blazing 58.6% from the field in the game, including 48.0% from downtown. Every Norse player who converted multiple attempts shot at least 50% from the field. 
- NKU scored over 50% of its points in the paint, scoring 56 of its 101 points inside the area. 
- Northern Kentucky scored 34 points on the fast break and 24 off turnovers. Entering the game, NKU ranked inside the top ten in the country in fast break points at 24.3 per game. 
- Donovan Oday led the Norse in scoring with 19 points on 7-8 shooting, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
- Dan Gherezgher went for 18 points on 8-16 shooting, knocking down a pair of threes with three assists and two rebounds.
- LJ Wells bounced back with a 15-point, eight-rebound, seven-steal performance. His seven steals marked the most by any Norse in a single game since Sam Vinson had 8 against Miami-Hamilton on December 18, 2022.
- Ethan Elliott (14 points, five assists) and Kael Robinson (12 points, five rebounds) also scored in double figures. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Cumberlands got off to a hot start, taking a 15-9 lead at the 14:15 mark. NKU quickly responded with a 15-0 scoring run, taking a 24-15 lead by the 9:15 mark. NKU completely shut down the Patriot offense after a hot start, allowing just 16 points to the visitors over the final 14:15 of the first half. 
- The Norse got it done on offense in the second half, scoring 59 points in the period. NKU opened the half on a 12-0 run, with seven of those points from Elliott. Northern Kentucky retained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest. 

UP NEXT
Northern Kentucky travels to Central Michigan on Thursday, taking on the Chippewas at 7 PM. 

FOLLOW NKU NORSE MEN'S BASKETBALL
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I college team through @NKUNorseMBB on Twitter, @nkunorsembb on Instagram, nkunorsembb on Facebook and subscribe to the NKU Norse Youtube channel.