APPLETON - St. Norbert College continued its long series with Lawrence University and came away with a 75-65 season-opening win in the 116th meeting between the Fox River Valley rivals in a non-conference game at Alexander Gym.
The Green Knights avenged a home loss to the Vikings last season by shooting 50.8 percent (30-for-59) from the floor and led by as many as 18 points midway through the second half. St. Norbert has won three of the last four meetings and 26 of the last 28 matchups overall. St. Norbert was picked to win the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in its pre-season poll, while Lawrence was tabbed for third in the Midwest Conference early guess.
St. Norbert scored the game's first two points but Lawrence then stayed even or led until
Jaeden Grade's 3-pointer with 11:27 left in the first half put St. Norbert ahead at 16-14. The Vikings came back to tie the score at 20-20 before a Grade 3-pointer a possession later but the Green Knights up for good at the 8:19 mark.
Reid Rosseland (pictured) scored eight of his 10 first-half points in the final 5:10 of the period, helping the Green Knights to a 39-32 lead.
Will Stuckey scored on St. Norbert's first two second-half possessions to give the Green Knights their first double-digit lead at 43-32.
Ryan Cox and Stuckey connected on 3-pointers, the latter at the 12:27 mark, for a 52-37 lead. After a Lawrence basket, Cox had a conventional 3-pointer play and then had a putback as the St. Norbert lead ruptured into a 57-39 bulge with 10:33 left, the Green Knights' largest lead of the game. St. Norbert led by double digits the rest of the way, including a 15-point lead with 29 seconds left until the Vikings scored five consolation points in the waning moments.
Stuckey led St. Norbert with 15 points, while Cox came off the bench with 14 points - with 12 coming in the second half.
Connor Pytleski registered a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Rosseland finished with 10 points. The Green Knights held a 35-27 rebounding advantage and limited the Vikings to just three offensive rebounds.
Lawrence shot 46 percent (23-for-50) from the floor. Nicholas Gouriotis led the Vikings with 15 points, while Caleb Nash added 12 points.
