Second-Half Spurt Fuels Green Knights Past Lawrence

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, December 6, 2017 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

APPLETON - St. Norbert College fashioned a pivotal 14-2 run midway through the second half and used it to key a 73-59 win over Lawrence University in a game between Midwest Conference unbeatens at Alexander Gym.

The Green Knights (6-1, 3-0 MWC) found themselves tied with the Vikings (5-1, 2-1) at 38-38 with 12:26 left. St. Norbert then went on its decisive run over the next 4:53 to lead 52-40 with 7:33 to go.

Wade Geenen's 3-pointer snapped the tie at the 12:03 mark, followed by a conventional three-point play from Taylor Penn 36 seconds later. Lawrence's Ben Peterson scored with 9:54 left, but it was all St. Norbert the rest of the way. Mitchell Reinthaler answered with a triple on St. Norbert's next possession, and Reinthaler and Penn each added a free throw to build the lead. Geenen finished what he started with another 3-pointer, this one to give St. Norbert a 52-40 edge with 7:40 remaining.

Lawrence cut its deficit to eight points on two occasions, but D.J. DeValk canned three 3-pointers in a 2 1/2-minute stretch inside five minutes left to seal the victory.

St. Norbert never trailed in the game despite a first-half dry spell that saw the Green Knights go 5:55 without scoring and 8:30 without a field goal. The Green Knights still led 29-24 at halftime.

DeValk posted a career-high 27 points for the Green Knights, who shot 45.7 percent (21-for-46) from the floor. Reinthaler added 16 points, while Joe Lemon chipped in 10 points.

Lawrence shot 42.2 percent (19-for-45) from the floor. Quinn Fisher led the Vikings with 20 points, while Peterson added 19 points.