DREW MCDONALD SCORED 26 POINTS AND GRABBED NINE REBOUNDS, LAVONE HOLLAND SCORED 20 AND MADE ALL THREE OF HIS 3-POINTERS AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY BEAT YOUNGSTOWN STATE 84-74 MONDAY TO ADVANCE TO THE HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
LEADING 24-19, NORTHERN KENTUCKY (23-10) USED AN 18-8 RUN IN THE FINAL EIGHT MINUTES OF THE FIRST HALF AND MAINTAINED CONTROL THE REST OF THE WAY. FRANCISCO SANTIAGO'S LAYUP BROUGHT THE PENGUINS TO WITHIN 42-36 WITH 17:09 TO PLAY BUT COULDN'T DRAW CLOSER.
YOUNGSTOWN STATE NEVER LED.THE NORSE SHOT 31 FOR 62 INCLUDING 13 FOR 27 FROM 3-POINT DISTANCE. NORTHERN KENTUCKY NOW HAS WON FIVE STRAIGHT AND NINE OF ITS LAST 10. MASON FAULKNER ADDED 10 POINTS.
CAMERON MORSE LED YOUNGSTOWN STATE (13-20) WITH 28 POINTS, SANTIAGO HAD 15 AND MATT DONLAN 14. MORSE BECAME THE FIRST PENGUINS PLAYER IN ITS DIVISION I-ERA TO SCORE MORE THAN 700 POINTS IN A SEASON (711).