Green Knights Hold Grinnell to 50 Points Below Season Average

From Sports Information Director, January 6, 2017 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GREEN BAY -- St. Norbert College held Grinnell College to 50 points under its season scoring average in a 100-73 Midwest Conference win at UW-Green Bay's Kress Events Center.

The Green Knights (9-2, 6-0 MWC), Division III's top scoring defense entering the game at 53.0 points per game, held the Pioneers (7-4, 4-2) well below their season scoring average of 123.1 points per game -- second-most in Division III. It was Grinnell's lowest point total since a 91-73 loss to St. Norbert in the 2015 Midwest Conference Tournament championship game.

The victory was also St. Norbert's 70th consecutive triumph over a Midwest Conference opponent.

St. Norbert held a tenuous 65-55 lead with 14:46 remaining following a 13-6 run by the Pioneers that saw a 17-point lead melt to 10. The Green Knights were able to get the next basket, however, with D.J. DeValk burying a 3-pointer to start what became a 23-2 run over the next 6:55.

The Green Knights scored the last 18 points of the run, capped off by a Ben Bobinski 3-pointer with 7:51 to go. The triple put St. Norbert ahead 88-57 and effectively decided the outcome.

St. Norbert also had a healthy run in the first half, going on a 12-0 spurt to see a seven-point lead rupture into a 19-point edge. Connor Curtis' basket put the Green Knights ahead 34-15 with 6:54 left in the first half. St. Norbert settled on a 53-37 lead at intermission.

St. Norbert shot 66.1 percent (41-for-62) from the floor. Bobinski led the Green Knights with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. Curtis added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Joe Lemon added 14 points and nine rebounds. Taylor Penn also reached double digits with 10 points.

Grinnell shot 31.0 percent (27-for-87) from the floor and was 10-for-49 (20.4 percent) from beyond the three-point arc. Vinny Curta led the Pioneers with 20 points and Nick Curta added 13 points.