Game 31 Recap: Northern Kentucky 82, Valparaiso 78

Northern Kentucky shot a sizzling 58% to hold off Horizon leader Valparaiso 82-78 Sunday afternoon at BB&T Arena. NKU led most of the way but a Micah Bradford three gave the Crusaders a 56-55 lead with 12:39 left to play. But 30 seconds later, a Lavone Holland II trey put his team back in front and the Norse were never headed. Drew McDonald led the way with 23 points while Holland and Carson Williams each added 17. Valpo was led by Tevonn Walker’s 25 and Shane Hammink chipped in with 23.

The win puts Northern Kentucky (21-10, 12-6 Horizon) in a 3rd-place tie with Green Bay in the final Horizon League standings. Green Bay owns the tiebreaker so the Norse will be the 4-seed in the Horizon League Tournament play. NKU starts tourney play against 5-seed Wright St. next Sunday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Valparaiso (24-7, 14-4), playing without star player Alec Peters, fell to the 2-seed in the Horizon League tournament behind Oakland.
Official Box Score

Game links:
@NKUNorseMBB defeats Valpo, 82-78, finishes third in Horizon League  (NKUNorse.com)
Norse outlast league leading Valparaiso to finish regular season  (The Northerner)
Peters misses 2nd straight game, VU loses on the road  (NWITimes.com)
Valparaiso falls without Alec Peters, settles for share of league title  (Chicago Tribune)

Highlights: