There was not much scoring over the first seven-plus minutes of the game as the host Norse (6-4) led just 9-7 at the 12:46 mark after a three-pointer by the freshman guard Ben Severns of the Cougars.

However, Northern Kentucky closed out the half on a 28-12 run to take a 37-19 lead at the break. Junior guard Brandon Short (left) led MVNU (5-5) with six points in the first half as the Cougars went just 7-for-28 from the field and 1-for-7 from three-point range (14.3 percent).

Meanwhile, Corey Sorrell paced the Norse with 10 points off the bench, while Dennis Gagai and Chris Knight added nine and eight points respectively. Northern Kentucky shot 50 percent from the field (16-for-32) and 40 percent from three-point range (4-for-10).

The Norse scored the first six points of the second half to take a 43-19 lead just over two minutes into the final period. That lead would later grow to as much as 62-35 with 9:28 to play on a jumper by David Palmer.

The Cougars, who shot 58.3 percent from the field in the second half (14-for-24), kept battling the entire way, but MVNU would get no closer than 75-56 on a jumper by sophomore guard Robbie Taylor with 1:29 remaining as Northern Kentucky posted the 78-56 victory for their 24th straight win against NAIA opponents dating back to 1993.

"Today, we really missed the inside presence and athleticism of Adam Grimm,” said MVNU coach Matt Moore, referring to the 6-foot-7 junior forward who missed the game with a foot injury. "Our inability to go get rebounds and loose balls was the difference in the first half. I thought we did some things better in the second half, but too many mental lapses are detrimental against superior teams.”

"(Northern Kentucky) did a nice job of playing physical and took our bigs off the block which slowed our movement offensively,” Moore added. "Right now, I am searching for those players on our team who are still looking to grow as people and players and not be content with where they are right now as a player.”

Short finished with 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds to lead the Cougars, while senior post Bryce Sanborn added nine points and 10 rebounds. Severns also chipped in with nine points off the bench as he went 3-for-4 from three-point range. MVNU shot 40.4 percent from the field (21-for-52), 30.8 percent from three-point range (4-for-13), and 50 percent from the free throw line (10-for-20). The Cougars also committed 20 turnovers.

Palmer led the Norse with 21 points and five blocked shots, while Sorrell finished with 16 points as the two combined to go 13-for-18 from the field. Gagai added 15 points, and Knight posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Scott Bibbins also handed out a game-high nine assists. Northern Kentucky shot 50.8 percent from the field (31-for-61), 43.8 percent from three-point range (7-for-16), and 60 percent from the free throw line (9-for-15).

MVNU will be right back in action on Tuesday with a rare mid-week matinee game at the University of Rio Grande when the non-conference game will tip off at 1:00 p.m. That will be the second of four road games in seven days for the Cougars, who will then fly to Florida for a pair of games following the contest with the Red Storm.