VALPARAISO, Indiana – Holding NKU to just 31.8 percent shooting in the first half, Valparaiso continued its impressive play Thursday night, defeating the Norse 64-52.

Valparaiso maintains its three-game lead in the Horizon League standings. The Crusaders are now 21-4 overall and 11-1 in the conference.

A strong first half propelled Valpo to victory. They shot 48.4 percent from the floor to take a 38-20 lead at halftime.

NKU (9-15, 5-8)  trailed by as many as 22 in the second half, but rallied late, outscoring Valpo 20-10 over the final 12:57. However, the Norse could get no closer than 12.

Todd Johnson led a balanced Norse attack with 9 points. Jordan Garnett, Tyler White, Dean Danos and Drew McDonald each scored 7 points.

Keith Carter was one of three Valpo players who scored in double figures with 16 points. Darien Walker and Shane Hammink each had 12 points.

NKU continues a stretch of five road games in six to close the regular season 4 p.m. Saturday at Illinois-Chicago. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

Summary

Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016

@ Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso 64, Northern Kentucky 52

N — 20 – 32 — 52
V — 38 – 26 — 64

(52) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Garnett 3-1-0-7, Billups 1-0-3-5, White 3-1-0-7, Murray 1-1-0-3, Danos 2-2-1-7, Cole 1-1-0-3, Giesler 2-0-0-4, Johnson 4-1-0-9, McDonald 3-1-0-7. TOTALS 20-8-4-52.

(64) VALPARAISO (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Skara 1-1-0-3, Peters 3-1-2-9, Carter 6-4-0-16, Walker 2-1-1-6, Nickerson 1-0-0-2, Walker 5-2-0-12, Hammink 5-2-0-12, Adekoya 2-0-0-4. TOTALS 25-11-3-64.

FIELD GOALS: N 20/49 (Johnson 4/9, Garnett 3/5, White 3/8, McDonald 3/6); V 25/60 (Carter 6/10, Walker 5/12, Hammink 5/6)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: N 8/19 (Danos 2/2); V 11/24 (Carter 4/6)

FREE THROWS: N 4/10 (Billups 3/6); V 3/4

REBOUNDS: N 28 (McDonald 8, Billups 6, Garnett 4, Johnson 4); V 37 (Peters 9, Adekoya 8, Fernandez 6, Walker 5)

ASSISTS: N 10 (White 3); V 16 (Hammink 5, Adekoya 5)

STEALS: N 5; V 8 (Adekoya 4)

BLOCKED SHOTS: N 3; V 6 (Fernandez 6)

TURNOVERS: N 15; v 14