INDIANAPOLIS - Northern Kentucky shot better than 56 percent from the floor and knocked in 13 threes as the Norse raced past the Jaguars, 96-71 inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 12). Junior Marcus Burk led three Jaguars in double-digits with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting and Grant Weatherford added 12 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Junior Isaiah Williams chipped in 11 points and Elyjah Goss contributed 11 boards, including seven off the offensive glass. 

Tyler Sharpe scored 20 of his game-high 33 points in the second half as NKU shot 59 percent overall after the break and connected on 10-of-20 from three-point range. NKU opened the second half by hitting its first seven shot attempts, including four from beyond the arc, to build a double-digit advantage. The Norse turned an eight-point halftime lead into an 18-point advantage less than six minutes deep into the second half, fueled by their hot shooting. IUPUI (5-14, 1-5 HL) never seriously threatened from there on a day in which it shot just 38 percent from the field and 4-of-21 (19 percent) from three-point range. 

IUPUI was down just two at 31-29 with 3:26 left before halftime when Weatherford contributed a three-point play after rebounding a Jamil Jackson Jr. miss. However, the Jags closed the half by making just one of its final 10 field goal attempts while NKU connected on six of its final seven attempts to finish the half at better than 53 percent. The Jags stayed in the game by hitting 10-of-13 free throw attempts and outscoring NKU 10-5 in the opening stanza. 

Things continued to go downhill at the start of the second half as Bryson Langdon opened with a trey, followed by a Jalen Tate jumper. After Weatherford made a three off a Burk assist, Trevon Faulkner fired back with a three of his own to push NKU's lead to 52-39. Williams cut the lead back to 11 with a layup before NKU's Adrian Nelson got free for a one-handed dunk underneath at the other end. After Williams scored a three-point play of his own, NKU's Sharpe and Langdon connected on back-to-back triples to extend the guest's lead to 16. 

The lead later went from 16 to 20 after Sharpe made a pair of free throws after the IUPUI bench was assessed technical foul and then Langdon scored on a midrange jumper on the ensuing possession. 

NKU, which came in leading the Horizon League in three-point defense, stifled the duo of Burk and Minnett behind the arc as IUPUI connected on just 4-of-21 attempts. Minnett, who came in leading the league in scoring in league contests, was limited to just seven points on 1-of-7 shooting in 34 minutes. Jackson tallied five points off the bench while Mike DePersia and Zo Tyson tallied four apiece. 

IUPUI will cap the three-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 18 against UIC at noon inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. As part of Cram the Coliseum and Scout Day, the IUPUI Athletics Department will run a number of special promotions, including FREE adidas branded t-shirts while supplies last. Tickets are available via TicketMaster or by visiting the Coliseum box office during normal business hours. In addition, an extreme pogo team will provide halftime entertainment.