Green Knights Push Winning Streak to 12 With Win Over Illinois College

From Sports Information Director, January 23, 2009 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College extended its winning streak to 12 with a 71-54 win over Illinois College in a Midwest Conference men's basketball game at Schuldes Sports Center.

The Green Knights, ranked No. 17 by D3hoops.com, improved to 13-1 overall and 7-0 in the Midwest Conference. Illinois College fell to 6-8, 3-4.

St. Norbert led 21-15 with 7:50 left in the first half before holding Illinois College scoreless for the next 5 minutes 40 seconds. Tom Katzfey's layup and pair of free throws put St. Norbert up 25-15. Jake Dietz had had a basket for a 27-15 lead, followed by a Mike Dowden 3-pointer. Paul Mallers' offensive putback put the Green Knights ahead 32-15 with 2:10 left in the half. St. Norbert settled on a 33-20 halftime lead.

The Green Knights continued to tighten the defensive clamps in the second half. St. Norbert led 52-36 with 10:32 left before going on a 13-1 run to take a 65-37 lead with 7:03 left to ice the game.

St. Norbert held Illinois College to 32.1 percent shooting from the floor, with the Blueboys making 18 of 56 field goals. Illinois College was 5-for-21 from beyond the three-point arc.

The Green Knights eventually found the gaps Illinois College's zone defense to shoot 40.3 percent from the floor, making 25 of 62 shots. St. Norbert, which had just nine turnovers, was 10-for-29 from beyond the three-point arc.

Tom Katzfey led St. Norbert with 14 points and added seven rebounds. Bryan Fleischmann had 13 points and five rebounds, while Paul Mallers had six points and pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds.

Jacob Tucker and David Stewart each had 13 points to lead Blueboys. Illinois College outrebounded St. Norbert 43-39.