On Tuesday night NKU and Lipscomb locked horns for the third time this year, this time in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. These two teams split the previous two games, with each home team winning. Both teams came into the game with identical records 13-16 overall and 7-7 in conference. The only difference tonight was NKU played at Regents Hall besides the Bank of Kentucky Center.
This game was a shootout from the beginning, the Norse shot 53.6% on 28 shot and the Bisons shot 50.0% on 22 shots. Because of foul trouble between White, Jackson and Persons (all saddled with 2) they had surprise contributor. Cole Murray made two big three’s in the first half and ended the half with 8 points. Tayler Persons ended the first half with 11 points and 4 assists. NKU looked pretty good minus a few touch foul calls.
The Bisons were saddled by foul trouble also as leading scorer Josh Williams, Chad Lang and J.C. Hampton had 2 each. With three key players in trouble guard Nathan Moran stepped up big score 11 big points in the first half. Martin Smith also chipped in with 7 points.
The Norse went into the half up 38-37, a big foul on Todd Johnson allowed the Nathan Moran and the Bisons 3 gift points.
The second half was more of the same we saw in the first 2o minutes. The game was back and forth all night to highlight a few plays Tyler White was fouled on a three-point shot and missed all three free throws they came back to haunt the Norse in the long run. Down 3 Talbott Denny completed a big and one play to tie the game. It was followed by a big bucket by center Chad Lang which gave the Bisons a 2 point lead. After that J.C. Hampton split a few free throws and then Tyler White erased his mistake as he made a huge three to tie the game up at 68. The three sent the crowd into a crazy trance as they knew their Norse had 5 more minutes to secure victory.
Talbott Denny scored the first bucket of overtime to give the Bisons a lead. It was answered by White who went a mini 5-0 run to give the Norse a 3 point lead, but after Norse obtained the lead the wheels fell off as the Bisons went on a 6-0 run to finish the game. Hampton made two free throws, Williams made a big go ahead jumper and Lang who came into game shooting 51% from the line drained two to seal the deal. The Norse lost their first Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament game 76-73 in overtime. It was an instant classic, but it wasn’t the result the Norse wanted.
Tyler White finished with 19 points and Jalen Billups had 12 points and 8 rebounds for the Norse.
Martin Smith finished with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals for the Bisons.
The Bisons will play North Florida on Thursday.
This game was one of the best games I’ve ever covered, great season Norse.
