St. Norbert Outlasts Marian to Improve to 4-0

From Sports Information Director, November 25, 2009 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College remained unbeaten with a 78-70 non-conference win over Marian University at Schuldes Sports Center's Connie Tilley Court.

The Green Knights improved to 4-0 with the win, extending their best season start since a 5-0 beginning to the 1994-95 season. Marian dropped to 2-3.

St. Norbert committed an uncharacteristic 22 turnovers in the game, which allowed Marian to hang around most of the game, although the host led from start to finish. The Green Knights led 27-22 at halftime thanks to the Sabres making just 6 of 29 field-goal attempts (20.7 percent).

The Green Knights pushed their second-half lead to 17 points at 53-36 with 9 minutes 30 seconds remaining, but Marian went on a 16-5 run to get to within 58-52 with 5:27 left on a Bryan Ashbeck 3-pointer. Following an exchange of baskets, St. Norbert's Chris Peterson connected on a 3-pointer for a 63-54 lead with 4:12 to go and the Green Knights were never seriously threatened after that.

St. Norbert was led by 14 points from Peterson and Dave Wipperfurth, while Paul Mallers added 11 points. The Green Knights shot 48.9 percent (22-for-55) from the floor, getting 24 less field-goal attempts than the visitor. St. Norbert was 30-for-39 (76.9 percent) at the free-throw line to offset its turnover malaise.

Logan Rankin led Marian with 22 points, and passed the 1,000-point mark for his career. Ashbeck added 11 points for the Sabres.