Green Knights Blister Nets, Top Lawrence For 11th Straight Time

From Sports Information Director, January 7, 2015 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

APPLETON - St. Norbert College shot a lusty 65.1 percent from the floor to outpace Lawrence University 81-72 in a Midwest Conference game at Alexander Gym.

The Green Knights (11-1, 7-0 MWC) canned 28 of 43 field-goal attempts to win their 11th consecutive game over the Vikings (4-7, 2-4) and their 31st consecutive victory against Midwest Conference opponents.

St. Norbert, ranked No. 20 in the D3hoops.com Top 25, shot 70.8 percent (17-for-24) in the first half but led only 43-39 at halftime due to Lawrence canning 8 of 16 three-point field-goal attempts. The Vikings hit 3-pointers on five consecutive possessions at one point but led only 24-22 after the barrage with 11:13 left in the first half.

Steven Hofacker's layup with 4:34 left in the half tied the score at 34-34, and started an 11-5 run to close out the half. Hofacker's bucket with 10 seconds left set St. Norbert into intermission ahead by four.

Lawrence trailed 47-44 with 16:54 left but St. Norbert went on a quick 8-0 run to take a 55-44 lead. Hofacker had two consecutive baskets followed by a jumper from Austin Elliott and another hoop by Hofacker. The Vikings would get as close as six points at 68-62 with 5:34 left, but Mitch Winter's 3-pointer with 5:09 to go put St. Norbert ahead by nine and effectively decided the issue.

Hofacker posted a career-high 19 points to lead St. Norbert. Elliott added 18 points, Andrew Schwoerer 14 and Ben Bobinski 12. The Green Knights canned 6 of 10 three-point field-goal attempts and also outrebounded Lawrence 28-16.

Trace Sonnleitner posted 21 points for Lawrence, which lost its sixth consecutive game overall. Jamie Nikitas added 19 points and Ryan DePouw 10 points. The Vikings shot 46.2 percent (24-for-42) from the floor.