FOND DU LAC – St. Norbert College escaped with an overtime win over a cagey Marian University, defeating the Sabres 82-77 in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at Sadoff Gym.  

The Green Knights (13-6, 9-3 NACC) led Marian for most of the first half, holding an eight-point lead at halftime. St. Norbert grow its lead to as many as 17 in the second half before a ferocious Marian run tied the game with 30 seconds remaining in regulation.  

With Marian scoring back-to-back 3-pointers to open the game, Jamison Nickolai scored six of his own to give St. Norbert a 10-9 lead at 15:00 in the first half. The Green Knights shooting from beyond the arc was a big part of the offense in the early going, with six being drained in the first half. Nickolai, Garrett Grzesk and Cole Uhlenbrauck all found success beyond the arc, giving St. Norbert a six-point advantage with 7:44 left in the first.  

A three from Derek Shaw with 1:33 remaining in the opening period gave the Green Knights their first double-digit lead of the evening. That lead grew in the second half after a 9-0 St. Norbert run to start the half, giving the Green Knights a 46-29 lead.  

Despite this large lead, the Sabres found some energy in the final 10 minutes, going on a 16-2 run in less than three minutes to cut the deficit to just a point, with St. Norbert leading 58-57 with 7:51 left to play.  

The Sabres would tie the game and take the lead several times, but a Grzesk jumper with 40 seconds left regained the St. Norbert lead at 69-67. Marian found two free throws with 30 seconds left but could not put away the Green Knights in regulation.  

The 3-point baskets flew again in overtime for St. Norbert, getting three from Nickolai, Aidan Harrington (pictured) and Will Stuckey. The Sabres got back to within four of the lead with nine seconds left but was too late as St. Norbert converted its free throws to end the game.  

St. Norbert shot 51.7 percent from the field (31-for-60) and went 36.7 percent from beyond the arc (11-for-30). Nickolai finished with a season and career-high 28 points and 15 rebounds in a double-double performance. Harrington finished with 13 points while Grzesk and Brandt Wilson each had nine. The Green Knights outrebounded the Sabres 39-29.  

Marian shot 45 percent from the floor (27-for-60). Mahlik Hall led the Sabres with 15 points off the bench.