DE PERE – St. Norbert College was able to overcome early struggles to defeat Aurora University 74-63 in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at Mulva Family Fitness and Sports Center.  

The Green Knights (5-1, 3-0 NACC) fell behind by nearly 10 points in the first half but were able to rally and take the lead just before halftime. After the break, St. Norbert would not trail and would grow its lead in the second half to double-digits.  

The Spartans opened the game on a 12-4 run, but the Green Knights were able to go on a lengthy run of their own, with Garrett Grzesk, Jaeden Grade and Jamison Nickolai going to work to give St. Norbert a 25-21 lead with six minutes to play. Aurora would take back a five-point lead thanks to trips to the free throw line, but a 6-0 run from Cole Uhlenbrauck in the last minute and 15 seconds gave St. Norbert a 35-32 lead at halftime. His final points of the half beat the buzzer by just two seconds.  

Aurora was able to tie the game five times in the early minutes of the second half. It would not be until the middle of the half where the Green Knights put their foot down on the game, with Nickolai doing work in the paint and beyond the arc to help give St. Norbert its biggest lead of the day with a 15-point lead.  

Free throws helped the Green Knights in the second half, as they made six in the final four minutes.  

St. Norbert shot 59.6 percent from the field (28-for-47) and converted seven three pointers on 19 attempts (36.8 percent). The Green Knights outrebounded the Spartans 26-19.  

Nickolai led the way with 21 points, five rebounds and four steals. Connor Pytleski (pictured) added 12 off the bench, while Uhlenbrauck had nine points, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor.  

Aurora shot 48.8 percent (20-for-41) from the floor. Mehki Doby led the Spartans with 15 points.