St. Norbert Uses Strong Second Half to Beat Lawrence

From Sports Information Director, February 18, 2012 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

APPLETON - St. Norbert College fashioned an impressive second half to post an 80-65 win over Lawrence University in a Midwest Conference game at Alexander Gym.

The Green Knights (15-8, 12-6) won their sixth-straight game in the series against Lawrence, and also closed out the regular season with their ninth win in their last 12 games. St. Norbert, which lost all five starters from last year's MWC champion that finished 14-4, finished just two games off that pace in league play this season. Lawrence ended its year 9-13, 8-10.

St. Norbert will face Grinnell College at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a MWC Tournament semifinal game at Lake Forest College.

St. Norbert trailed 39-37 at halftime but slowly took command in the second half. The Green Knights were able to forge the lead 2 minutes into the half, and the game was last tied at 47-47 with 13:28 left. Andrew Schwoerer had consecutive jumpers to put St. Norbert ahead for good. Lawrence trailed 54-52 but St. Norbert went on an 11-2 run to take a 65-54 lead on a layup by Schwoerer with 5:11 left. The Vikings wouldn't get closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Lawrence's biggest lead was eight at 18-10. The Vikings shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half and canned 10 of 19 three-point field-goal attempts before cooling off considerably in the second half. The Vikings ended up shooting 44.7 percent (21-for-47) from the floor and 12-for-28 (42.9 percent) on 3-pointers.

St. Norbert shot an even 50 percent from the floor for the game, making 25 of 50 field goals. The Green Knights also got to the free-throw line 36 times, making 23. St. Norbert had a commanding 40-24 rebounding edge, and held a 17-0 advantage in second-chance points. Schwoerer led St. Norbert with 17 points, while Brandon Gries added 16 points. Andy Fox and Paul Appleton each had 11 points, while Garrett Thorn had nine points and 11 rebounds.

Tyler Crisman led Lawrence with 21 points.