Defense Carries Day as Green Knights Bounce Back

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, January 20, 2018 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GALESBURG, Ill. - St. Norbert College turned in its best defensive outing of the season as the Green Knights rolled to a 76-41 Midwest Conference win over Knox College at Memorial Gym.

St. Norbert (13-4, 8-2 MWC) snapped a brief two-game losing streak with the win. It was the lowest scoring total for an opponent this season and the lowest since a 65-40 win over Monmouth College on Jan. 14, 2017.

The Green Knights scored the first points of the game, and after holding a 4-2 lead went on a 12-0 run to take firm control. St. Norbert led 16-2 with 12:11 left in the first half. Knox cut the deficit to 21-9 with 8:47 left, but a Riley Haas 3-pointer with the shot clock expiring on the next possession swung things back St. Norbert's direction. The Green Knights closed out the half on a 14-4 run to take a 35-13 lead into halftime.

St. Norbert scored the first two baskets of the second half and Knox would get no closer than 23 points the rest of the way.

St. Norbert shot 55 percent (33-for-60) from the field. Mitchell Reinthaler led the Green Knights with 16 points, while D.J. DeValk added 15 points and Jared Murphy 10 points.

Knox shot 40.5 percent (15-for-37) from the floor but was plagued by 25 turnovers. Blake Godbold led the Prairie Fire with nine points.