Northern Kentucky University lost a tough one Saturday evening at Truist Arena.
NKU fell 75-74 to Milwaukee in a battle for first place in the Horizon League. NKU drops to 9-3 and 14-9 overall after losing to the Panthers for the second time in 16 days. The visiting Panthers improved to 15-7 and tied with NKU in the league standings at 9-3.
NKU led by as many as 23 points (47-24) late in the first half, then had to rally from five points down late in the game.
NKU inbounded in the front court with 9.2 seconds left to play, down 75-74. NKU senior Trevon Faulkner missed a 3-pointer. Junior guard Trey Robinson jumped for the ball to get the rebound, but collided with 7-foot-1 Moses Bol. Robinson crashed to the floor. The ball ricocheted to Faulkner, who missed a contested jumper from the baseline at the buzzer.
Junior guard Marques Warrick, NKU’s leading scorer for the year at over 19 points per game, had a buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Cleveland State last week, but didn’t get that opportunity against the Panthers defense.
“We wanted to try to get Marquez downhill and we weren't able to do that,” NKU head coach Darrin Horn said. “They kind of ran at him. They did a good job and we didn't end up with much of a shot on that one.”
Robinson was shaken up after the final shot, but walked off the floor under his own power.
“I didn't really see that part of it, and you know, they're probably not calling (a foul) in that situation anyway,” Horn said.
Trailing 75-70 in the final seconds, the Norse scored four quick points to give themselves a chance.
Chris Brandon scored a layup. Warrick stole the inbounds pass after Milwaukee basically threw the ball right to him. Warrick scored a layup, and NKU trailed by one with 11 seconds left.
Robinson forced a tie-up after the next inbounds pass, and NKU got the ball on the possession arrow.
The loss keeps NKU in first place, but in a tie
The loss was a painful one for NKU’s chase for the regular-season title and ideal seeding in the conference tournament, which determines who gets a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
A win would have put NKU in first place by itself, two games ahead of Milwaukee and at least one game ahead of second place following three Horizon League games on Sunday.
Instead, the Norse and Panthers are tied for first place after Saturday’s action. Combined with an 80-75 win over the Norse Jan. 12, Milwaukee secured a head-to-head sweep of the Norse, which could come into play in tiebreakers at the end.
Both Cleveland State and Youngstown State, currently 8-3 in league play, can pull into a tie for first on Sunday afternoon. Cleveland State hosts IUPUI and Youngstown hosts Detroit.
Oakland, 7-4 in league play and currently in fifth place, can climb within a game of first place Sunday at Robert Morris.
NKU will also face a difficult road after having to play seven of its final eight games on the road.
NKU controlled the first half
NKU overwhelmed the Panthers with a 18-0 run late in the first half to lead 35-13. Robinson had nine of the points in the run and scored 13 of his 18 points in the first half.
NKU shot 51.5% from the floor, including 6-of-15 from 3-point range. Milwaukee shot only 30.4%, making 7-of-23 field goals. NKU also outrebounded the Panthers by nine in the half and forced 10 turnovers.
The second half, Milwaukee started to get momentum. The Panthers matched their field-goal output of seven at the 12-minute mark, rallying to within 14 at 60-46
Milwaukee shot 53.6% in the second half, and 16-of-19 from the foul line. Milwaukee outrebounded the Norse by nine and forced eight Norse turnovers.
NKU went cold in shooting in the second half, making 27% (10-of-37). NKU made two of 18 3-pointers in the half, missing 14 in a row before Warrick hit one to tie the game at 70 late.
Milwaukee guard B.J. Freeman took over during a 17-0 run that gave Milwaukee the lead at 66-62 with six minutes left.
Freeman scored eight points in the run and assisted on two easy baskets by teammates. Freeman, Milwaukee’s leading scorer at 16 ppg., finished with 23 points and nine assists. He was a perfect 17-of-17 from the foul line.
“I thought we played about as good as we have all year in the first half and about as bad as we have all year in the second half,” Horn said. “I hate it for our fans. Homecoming, I thought that it was a tremendous crowd and, we had some former players back in the building.
“Give Milwaukee credit. They really came back and battled in the second half. Didn't do anything special, just stayed aggressive, especially driving the basketball. The difference in the game ultimately is the free-throw line. They get to the free throw line so much because we stopped guarding the ball."
Milwaukee's bench outplayed NKU's as 11 Panthers scored
Milwaukee’s bench outplayed NKU’s in the game. Milwaukee had six bench players total 34 points in the game. All six of them scored between four and seven points, and five of them made at least two field goals.
“You know again, after having maybe our best defensive half of the year, the lack of response (to their run),” Horn said. “In some ways, that was as disappointing as the loss as a whole, but again, give Milwaukee credit. I thought they were really aggressive and then then they went out and took the game, which is what you have to do in these situations.”
Moses Bol, a 7-foot-1 graduate student, ended with five points and three blocks. He gave Milwaukee the lead for good with two free throws after grabbing an offensive rebound with the scored tied at 70.
Zach Howell, a 6-foot-5 freshman guard, scored seven key points late in the game.
NKU didn’t get nearly as much production, with Faulkner’s 10 points off the bench being the key contribution. NKU got 10 minutes of floor time from three other reserves.
“That’s been a challenge for us,” Horn said. “In the last several games there was a stretch there where those guys were really giving us a lift, and lately that’s not been the case. Some of these guys are freshmen, so some of that's understandable, but at the same time you know we're a better team when we've got a deeper bench that's producing.”
Monster game for Chris Brandon
Chris Brandon, NKU’s 6-foot-8 senior post player, had a monster game with 18 points and 17 rebounds. He was 9-of-11 from the floor, including a key tip-in to tie the game at 67, and that key layup to cut NKU’s deficit to 75-72.
“Chris Brandon, he was an absolute warrior tonight,” Horn said. “They’re a team that traps and rotates a lot, and so I think it allowed him to get behind the defense some. He got a couple lobs and got a couple of putbacks because of that. We were able to find them rolling to the basket. And I just think it created some more opportunities for him tonight and he did a good job.”
Up next
NKU plays at Robert Morris Thursday and at Youngstown State Saturday, Feb. 4. Tipoff is 7 p.m. both nights.
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