Trailing 45-44 with less than 10 minutes to play, the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team closed on a 19-5 run to defeat Purdue Fort Wayne and remain right in the thick of the Horizon League title race.
The Norse improved to 12-5 in conference play, trailing Youngstown State by a game and in a three-way tie with Milwaukee and Cleveland State for second with three conference games remaining.
Friday’s tilt was the first of four straight games for the Norse to close the season out on the road, headed to Cleveland State on Sunday in their next contest. If the Norse win that one or any of the remaining three, they clinch at least a top four seed and guarantee themselves a home game for the Horizon League Tournament quarterfinals.
Marques Warrick led the way with 22 points, his seventh 20-point game in conference play. Xavier Rhodes and Sam Vinson chipped in nine points each. Chris Brandon pulled down 13 rebounds as NKU won the rebounding battle 36-27.
In the 19-5 run to close out the contest, Warrick and Vinson combined for 14 points while holding the Mastodons to just one field goal.
NKU is now 17-11 overall, PFW dropped to 15-13 overall and 7-10 in conference play.
