Valparaiso remained tied for the top spot in the Horizon League after Saturday’s 71-46 win over Northern Kentucky at BB&T Arena.

The Crusaders used a strong effort defensively to stymie NKU.

The Norse raced out to a 15-11 lead midway through the first half. The rest of the half was dominated by Valpo as they outscored the Norse 23-7 to take a 34-22 lead into the intermission.

Jalen Billups started the second half with a layup to pull the Norse within 10, 34-24.

NKU got no closer. Valpo went on a 10-2 run over the next 3:40 to put the game out of reach.

Billups led the Norse with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Lavone Holland II added 10 points. Valparaiso held NKU to just 29.4 percent shooting from the floor.

Meanwhile, Valpo (17-4 overall, 7-1 in Horizon League) shot 40.4 percent for the game. Keith Carter was one of four Crusaders in double figures with 16 points and 6 rebounds.

NKU (7-12, 3-5) heads back on the road for one game at Detroit 7 p.m. Friday, before returning home for three straight Horizon League games beginning 7 p.m. Monday against Oakland.

Summary

Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016

@ BB&T Arena, Highland Heights, Kentucky

Valparaiso 71, Northern Kentucky 46

V — 34 – 37 — 71
N — 22 – 24 — 46

(71) VALPARAISO (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Skara 1-1-0-3, Fernandez 1-0-2-4, Peters 4-2-2-12, Carter 5-4-2-16, T. Walker 3-0-4-10, Nickerson 0-0-4-4, D. Walker 2-0-0-4, Hammink 5-0-4-14, Adekoya 2-0-0-4. TOTALS 23-7-18-71.

(46) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Garnett 0-0-3-3, Billups 7-0-3-17, White 1-1-1-4, Holland II 4-2-0-10, Gillis 0-0-2-2, McDonald 2-0-3-7, Danos 1-1-0-3. TOTALS 15-4-12-46.

FIELD GOALS: V 23/57 (Hammink 5/8, K. Carter 5/8, Peters 4/10); N 15/51 (Billups 7/15, Holland 4/9)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: V 7/22 (K. Carter 4/5); N 4/15 (Holland 2/3)

FREE THROWS: V 18/23 (Walker 4/4, Nickerson 4/6, Hammink 4/5); N 12/16 (Garnett 3/4, Billups 3/3, McDonald 3/4)

REBOUNDS: V 43 (Fernandez 11, K. Carter 6, Peters 5); N 28 (Billups 8, McDonald 6, Murray 4)

ASSISTS: V 14 (Skara 3, Walker 3); N 9

STEALS: V 7 (Walker 2); N 4

BLOCKED SHOTS: V 5; N 2

TURNOVERS: V 12; N 15