DE PERE - St. Norbert College opened Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play with a 79-67 win over Lakeland University at Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center.

The Green Knights (3-0, 1-0 NACC) shot almost 65 percent (18-for-28, 64.3 percent) from the floor in the second half to pull away from a five-point halftime lead.

Lakeland went on a 7-0 run to take an 18-17 lead with 8:07 left in the first half. St. Norbert took a 24-20 lead with 6:16 to go before a Muskies' 3-pointer cut the margin back to one. The Green Knights then went on a 7-0 run of their own to take control, getting a pair of baskets from Brandt Wilson and a trey from Jamison Nickolai for a 31-23 edge with 3:27 left. St. Norbert led 34-29 at halftime.

St. Norbert opened the second half on a 12-5 run to build a double-digit lead at 46-34, finished by Garrett Grzesk's 3-pointer with 16:59 to go. Lakeland would get its deficit down to six at 52-46 with 12:43 left, but the Green Knights went on a 6-0 run on baskets by Connor Pytleski, Grzesk and Nickolai to push the lead to 58-46 with 11:27 to go. St. Norbert would hold a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

St. Norbert shot 51.7 percent (31-for-60) from the floor and was 27-for-43 (62.8 percent) from inside the perimeter. The Green Knights also held a 38-30 rebounding margin. Nickolai had 16 points and eight rebounds, while Wilson had 15 points and nine rebounds. Grzesk (pictured) finished with 15 points and five assists, while Pytleski chipped in eight points and seven rebounds off the bench. Charlie Geske also chipped in eight points and three rebounds in 10 minutes in a reserve role.

Lakeland shot 41.1 percent (23-for-56) from the floor. Tim Ward led the Muskies with 24 points and 12 rebounds.