Hot-shooting NKU eliminates Wright State

Wright State senior forward Steven Davis throws down a dunk during the Raiders’ Horizon League tournament game against Northern Kentucky on Sunday in Detroit. JOSE JUAREZ/CONTRIBUTED

Wright State senior forward Steven Davis throws down a dunk during the Raiders’ Horizon League tournament game against Northern Kentucky on Sunday in Detroit. JOSE JUAREZ/CONTRIBUTED
Sports
By Jay Morrison
March 6, 2017
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The Madness in the Motor City, and the Wright State season, came to end Sunday night as No. 4 Northern Kentucky became the first higher seed to win with a 82-77 triumph of the No. 5 Raiders in the Horizon League tournament quarterfinals at Joe Louis Arena.

NKU, which also won both regular-season games against Wright State, hit 14 consecutive field goals in the second half to offset the hot hand of Grant Benzinger, who hit a career-high seven 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 29 points.

Mark Alstork added 22 points, and Justin Mitchell finished with 12, but it wasn’t enough for the Raiders, who ended their first season under Scott Nagy at 20-12.

Carson Williams, a member of the HL all-freshman team, led the Norse (22-10) with 17 points on 6 of 7 shooting, while Lavone Holland added 16.

NKU (22-10) is the highest remaining seed after the first five games ended in upsets. The Norse will face No. 9 Youngstown State in a semifinal game at 7 p.m. Monday. No. 6 Illinois-Chicago will play No. 10 Milwaukee in the other semifinal.

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About the Author

Jay Morrison