Surging Green Knights Blow Out Ripon

From Sports Information Director, January 14, 2014 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College turned in a performance for the record books with a thorough 102-62 win over Ripon College in a Midwest Conference game at Schuldes Sports Center.

The Green Knights (12-1, 8-0 MWC), ranked No. 12 in the D3hoops.com Top 25, won a Midwest Conference game by the second-largest margin since joining the league in 1983-84. The Green Knights shot 65.6 percent (42-for-64) form the floor, the fourth-highest in school history against an opponent other than Grinnell. The 42 made field goals are the third-most in St. Norbert annals and the most against an opponent other than Grinnell. It was also the fourth time St. Norbert has reached the 100-point mark in a game this season, the most since reaching the century mark five times in 1975-76.

Ripon (8-5, 5-3) took a 3-0 lead on a 3-pointer by Kyle Loughrin 41 seconds into the game, but that was the extent of the good tidings for the Red Hawks. St. Norbert then scored the game's next 23 points over the next 8 minutes 29 seconds. Kam Cerroni turned a 3-2 deficit into an 11-3 lead with three consecutive 3-pointers. Cerroni added another triple during the run for an 18-3 edge, and Brandon Gries finished off the onslaught with a 3-pointer with 11:50 to go for a 23-3 advantage.

The 23-0 run was just the start of a longer run, with scoring skeins reaching 30-1 and finally 45-6. Izaiah Anderson's jumper with 5:19 left before the half put the Green Knights ahead by a stunning 45-9 margin. A late Ripon 14-7 run drew the Red Hawks to within 52-23 at halftime.

St. Norbert never led by less than 27 points in the second half, the last time at 56-27 with 18:33 to go.

Cerroni poured in 22 points, with 18 coming in the first half. He connected on six 3-pointers, the fourth time this season the senior sharpshooter has had at least that many in a game. Andrew Schwoerer came off the bench to score 20 points, while Steven Hofacker also came off the bench to add 12 points. They were the only three St. Norbert players to reach double figures.

The Green Knights had a staggering 33-7 assist-to-turnover ration. Andy Fox finished with eight assists, while Cerroni and Brandon Gries had six assists apiece. St. Norbert also held a 35-22 rebounding edge.

Ripon shot 38.9 percent (21-for-54) from the floor. Ty Sabin led the Red Hawks with 17 points, while Loughrin finished with 15 points.