Green Knights Grind Past Prairie Fire to Stay Unbeaten in MWC

From Sports Information Director, January 15, 2010 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - Despite shooting just under 34 percent from the floor, St. Norbert College used its trademark defense to post a 60-47 Midwest Conference win over Knox College at Schuldes Sports Center.

St. Norbert, ranked 12th in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25, improved to 11-1 overall and 5-0 in the MWC. Knox fell to 1-11, 1-4.

The Green Knights held a tenuous 32-28 lead with 16 minutes 29 seconds left before slowly pulling away. Mike Brumm converted a steal into a layup, and Paul Mallers hit a layup for a 36-28 lead on St. Norbert's next possession. Following a made free throw by Knox, Paul Appleton canned a 3-pointer for 39-29 lead with 12:19 to go.

Appleton and Chris Peterson then scored layups on assists from Brumm, and Dave Wipperfurth rebounded a missed free throw and hit a jumper in the lane for a 47-31 advantage with 9:49 left. Knox would get no closer than the game's final score after that.

St. Norbert shot a season-low 33.8 percent from the floor, making 23 of 68 shots. The Green Knights were an even lower 29.2 percent (7-for-24) on three-point field-goal attempts. Wipperfurth led St. Norbert with 17 points, while Peterson added 11. The Green Knights had just 10 turnovers.

Knox had 25 less field-goal attempts than St. Norbert thanks to 22 turnovers. The Prairie Fire was 16-for-43 from the floor (37.2 percent). Knox outrebounded St. Norbert 39-38, but had only six offensive caroms to St. Norbert's 14. No Knox player scored in double figures, with Joe Kozak and Jacob Lewis each scoring nine points.