St. Norbert Pulls Away From Illinois College

From Sports Information Director, January 13, 2017 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GREEN BAY - St. Norbert College shot nearly 61 percent in the second half to pull away from Illinois College in an 83-60 Midwest Conference win at UW-Green Bay's Phoenix Sports Center.

The Green Knights (10-2, 7-0 MWC), won for the 71st consecutive time against a MWC foe and moved into sole possession of first place following Ripon College's 79-70 loss to Monmouth College. St. Norbert hosts Monmouth at 3 p.m. Saturday at Kress Events Center.

St. Norbert held a 36-21 halftime lead on the Blueboys before making 17 of 28 field-goal attempts in the second half, good for a 60.7 percent success rate.

The Green Knights got off to a red-hot start, leading 16-2 out of the gate. D.J. DeValk scored 13 of St. Norbert's points in the run, with Joe Lemon adding the other three on a 3-pointer. Illinois College got to within six twice in the first half before St. Norbert closed the half on a 7-1 run to lead by 15 at intermission.

St. Norbert and Illinois College traded baskets for most of the first nine minutes of the second half. The Blueboys' Tim Parks converted a four-point play to bring the visitors to within 58-39 with 11:42 remaining, but St. Norbert went on a quick 7-0 run fueled by a pair of Ben Bobinski 3-pointers to take a 66-39 lead with 10:10 to go.

The Green Knights shot 46.0 percent (29-for-63) form the floor for the game. DeValk finished with 25 points, while Bobinski added 13 points. Lemon totaled eight points and 10 rebounds. St. Norbert also held a commanding 46-27 rebounding advantage. The Green Knights were also 14-for-23 (60.9 percent) from beyond the three-point arc.

Illinois College made 22 of 55 field-goal attempts (40.0 percent). Mason Speer and Max Stutsman had 11 points apiece.