Northern Kentucky Holds Off Milwaukee 67-62

Northern Kentucky's Dan Gherezgher stole the show at Truist Arena, scoring 22 points to propel his team to a 67-62 victory over Wisconsin, Milwaukee. The win marked a crucial conference victory for the Norse, who improved to 15-11 on the season. Gherezgher's performance was the difference-maker, as he led all scorers and helped Northern Kentucky secure a hard-fought win.

The first half belonged to the Norse, who took a 36-31 lead into the break. Gherezgher was unstoppable, scoring 14 of his 22 points in the opening period. Milwaukee's Chandler Jackson tried to keep pace, scoring 11 points to lead the Panthers. However, Northern Kentucky's balanced attack, which included 12 points from LJ Wells and 11 points and 5 rebounds from Tae Dozier, proved too much for the Panthers to handle.

In the second half, Milwaukee tried to mount a comeback, but Northern Kentucky's defense held strong. The Panthers managed to tie the score at 53-53 with just over 5 minutes remaining, but the Norse responded with a 10-4 run to take control of the game. Gherezgher scored 8 of his 22 points in the final 5 minutes, including a pair of clutch free throws to seal the win.

CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Northern Kentucky winning by 11.5 points, but the actual margin was much closer, at 5 points. Despite the narrower margin, the prediction was correct, as the Norse emerged victorious. The win was a crucial one for Northern Kentucky's tournament resume, as it marked a Quad 4 victory. For Milwaukee, the loss was a Quad 3 defeat, which will likely have minimal impact on their already slim tournament hopes.

The victory improves Northern Kentucky's record to 15-11, while Milwaukee falls to 9-17. The Norse want to build on this win as they continue their conference schedule. With Gherezgher leading the charge, Northern Kentucky has the potential to make some noise in the tournament. For now, they'll focus on adding more wins to their resume and improving their chances of making a deep postseason run.

This win is a significant boost to Northern Kentucky's tournament chances, as they continue to accumulate wins against conference foes. While the margin was closer than expected, the Norse proved they have the talent and determination to come out on top in tight games. As the season enters its final stretch, Northern Kentucky want to build on this momentum and make a strong case for a tournament bid.