Green Knights Defense Carries Day Against Lake Forest

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, February 7, 2018 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College turned in its best defensive effort of the season with a 71-40 win over Lake Forest College in a Midwest Conference game on Connie Tilley Court at Jim Kress Gymnasium in Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center.

The Green Knights (16-6, 11-4 MWC) dispatched the erstwhile MWC co-leader Foresters (15-7, 11-4) behind a solid start on the defensive end.

St. Norbert jumped out to an 8-0 lead four possessions into the game. Brennen Banks scored the first two baskets followed by hoops from Bryan Luteyn and D.J. DeValk. The Foresters cut the deficit to 9-6 but t. Norbert went on an 11-0 run to take a 20-6 edge with 12:!1 left in the half on a DeValk jumper. Two 3-pointers by Wade Geenen led to St. Norbert taking a 28-8 lead at the 9:18 mark.

The Green Knights then went six minutes without a field goal but the Foresters were only able to shave five points off the deficit. DeValk and Geenen snapped the drought with 3-pointers and St. Norbert led 39-21 at halftime.

Lake Forest pulled to within 48-35 with 11:11 remaining but St. Norbert then went on an 18-0 run to salt the game away with a 66-35 lead with 4:13 to go.

St. Norbert shot 50 percent (28-for-56) from the floor. DeValk finished with 27 points, while Geenen and Mitchell Reinthaler had 11 points apiece. Luteyn had six points and 10 rebounds, while Banks finished with seven points, six rebounds and six assists. Luteyn, Banks and Riley Haas all made their first career starts.

Lake Forest shot 27.3 percent (15-for-55) from the floor. Eric Porter led the Foresters with eight points.