(Ryan Luster)
by Taylor Bergfeld
Fresh off Sunday’s victory over Tennessee Tech, the Norse kicked off Horizon league play with a Double OT 77-73 victory over the Youngstown State Penguins.
Marques Warrick officially launched his Horizon League POY campaign with a 30-point outing to lead the Norse, Warrick was 11-19 from the field while going 5-6 from downtown. The Lexington Native praised his shot selection and referenced his maturity on the court of knowing when to take a shot, or when to look for his teammates. Warrick continued to praise his teammates for giving him the ball in situations where he’d be able to succeed.
Coach Darin Horn praises the Norse’s defensive effort tonight as they forced 24 TO’s and held the Penguins to 43% from the field and 26% from deep. Coach Horn continued by saying “the team needs to continue building ways to win, we have to be able to win ugly in conference play”. Outside of Warrick the Norse were challenged offensively, Sophomore Sam Vinson was able to play through an ankle injury, but the Highlands Bluebird struggled to find a rhythm finishing with 13 points on 3-13 shooting.
Coach Horn had tremendous things to say about 5th-year senior Trevon Faulkner, mentioned how “great of a teammate he is” to come off the bench and provide energy and emotions to the Norse locker room. Faulkner followed Horn by saying how grateful he is for his teammates and this University and how they’re looking forward to the rest of the Horizon League play.
The Norse will be back in action vs Robert Morris on Saturday, fresh off an 80-59 whipping of Wright State. NKU will have its annual “Teddy Bear” game where the NKU community will help generate donations that will be going to those affected by the flooding in Eastern Kentucky this past year. Be sure to be on the lookout for more Norse coverage!
