DE PERE - St. Norbert College opened the 15th Annual Nicolet National Bank Holiday Tournament with a 68-63 loss to the University of Northwestern at Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center.

The Green Knights (6-5) will face UW-Stout in the consolation game at 5 p.m. Friday. Northwestern will play St. Olaf College at 7 p.m. Friday in the tournament championship game. St. Olaf claimed a 78-45 win over Stout in the opening game.

St. Norbert shot 28.1 percent from the floor, making just 18 of 64 field-goal attempts. The Green Knights stayed in the game by going 23-for-31 at the free-throw line and forcing Northwestern into 20 turnovers while committing only seven.

Northwestern built a lead of 14 points on three occasions in the second half, the last at 35-21 with 2:43 left. St. Norbert closed the half on a 5-0 run to get to within 35-26 at halftime.

The Eagles led 58-42 with 8:43 left before St. Norbert scrambled its way back into the game by holding Northwestern to just one made field goal the rest of the way. The Green Knights went on a 10-0 run to get to within 58-52 with 3:53 to go, but Northwestern's Henry Fahnbulleh's 3-pointer with 3:12 gave the Eagles a nine-point edge and just enough cushion to hold off the host. St. Norbert got to within three points twice late, but the Eagles converted enough free throws to salt away the win.

Carter Gebler led St. Norbert with 13 points, while Evan Glaser added 11 points.

Northwestern shot 49 percent (24-for-49) from the floor. Fahnbulleh had 21 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Eagles. Caleb Hoilien added 14 points and Kyle Kaemingk 13 points.