EAU CLAIRE - St. Norbert College overcame a first-half deficit with a lengthy scoring run in the final 20 minutes en route to a 76-64 win over UW-Eau Claire in a non-conference game at Zorn Arena.
St. Norbert trailed 39-38 at halftime and fell behind by three on the first possession of the second half. The Green Knights went on an 8-0 run after a pair of baskets and a free throw from
Evan Glaser and a 3-pointer by
Garrett Grzesk for a 46-41 lead with 17:02 to go. After St. Norbert led 48-43 with 16:34 left, Eau Claire would respond with a 10-1 run to take a 53-49 lead with 12:50 to go on a Nolan Blair hoop.
The Green Knights then turned up the defensive pressure, going on a decisive 17-0 run to take firm control.
Carter Gebler started the run with a basket and
Jamison Nickolai gave the visitor the lead for good with a 3-pointer for a 54-53 edge with 11:02 to go. From there, St. Norbert forced five Eau Claire turnovers on its next seven possessions as the lead eventually ruptured into a 66-53 edge with 5:34 left. A Nickolai layup capped the run which kept Eau Claire from scoring until the Blugolds made a free throw with 4:25 left.
Eau Claire would get to within seven with 3:42 left, but baskets by Nickolai and Gebler salted the game away with a 70-59 lead with 2:43 to go.
St. Norbert built an early 19-13 lead after a conventional three-point play by
Aidan Harrington at the 14:15 mark of the first half. After a 30-30 tie with 6:26 left, Eau Claire went on a 7-0 run to take a 37-30 lead with 3:26 left, but the Green Knights got back to within 39-38 at halftime after a late Gebler jumper.
The Green Knights shot 52.7 percent (29-for-55) from the floor and outrebounded the Blugolds 36-33. Nickolai and Gebler finished with 17 points apiece, while Grzesk added 12 points.
Eau Claire shot 41.7 percent (25-for-60) from the floor and was 8-for-25 (32 percent) from beyond the arc. Carter Huschka had a game-high 21 points for the Blugolds.
