HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The IUPUI basketball team put up a solid effort but was unable to upset a strong Northern Kentucky team on Senior Day on Sunday (Feb. 25) as the host Norse defeated the Jaguars, 80-64. LJ Wells led five NKU players in double-digits with 20 points and Marques Warrick added 17 in the win. 

Junior Jlynn Counter had a team-high 16 points and seven assists for the Jaguars while sophomore Vincent Brady II contributed 15 points and six rebounds. Senior John Egbuta closed with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the loss. 

NKU shot 51 percent from the floor and 45 percent from three-point range while outrebounding the Jaguars by a 39-28 margin, leading to 18 second chance points. IUPUI closed at 43 percent overall and 3-of-9 from three-point range with all three makes coming in the first 10 minutes. 

IUPUI (6-23, 2-16 HL) led 14-5 to open the game, fueled in part by a pair of Brady treys. However, the offense went stagnant and NKU (18-10, 11-7 HL) capitalized, outscoring the Jaguars 27-9 over the final 10 minutes of the first half to gain a 44-30 halftime advantage. IUPUI made just three of its final 15 shot attempts of the half while NKU closed at 10-of-18, including three threes. 

The Jaguars got back within three early in the second half, beginning the frame with a 14-3 burst. IUPUI made six of its first eight attempts of the second half, including two makes each from Egbuta and Abdou Samb to creep back into contention. However, the Norse responded with threes from Warrick and Randall Pettus II to regain momentum. 

The Jags nudged within two with 11:29 left when Yves Nkomba got free on an inbounds play, but NKU never relinquished the lead and steadily pulled away late. 

IUPUI, playing without Bryce Monroe, saw its typically dependable bench provide just eight points. Qwanzi Samuels had four points, three rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in 18 minutes and DJ Jackson was held to two points and three assists. 

The Jaguars will return home to host Milwaukee on Wednesday (Feb. 28) at 7:00 p.m. inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. As part of BLACKOUT NIGHT presented by IUPUI Africana Studies and Black & Minority Owned Business Night, fans are encouraged to wear black to Wednesday's game. The broadcast will be on ESPN+ as Greg Rakestraw (pxp) and Jan Boser (analyst) have the call from courtside.