Northern Kentucky 55, Navy 46
Led by three players in double-figures, visiting Northern Kentucky defeated Navy 55-46 Saturday to pick up its second straight win in its first season as a Division I program.
Ernest Watson led the Norse (2-6) with 19 points, while Jalen Billups, who scored the first points of each half on dunks, had 14 and Eshaunte Jones 13.
Though the Norse scored the first four points of the game, the Midshipmen (6-7) went up by as many as nine points in the first half. The Norse steadily cut the lead, however, and tied the game 23-23 heading into intermission.
The Norse used an 11-0 run to go up 48-38 with 4:41 left, as Watson converted three 3-pointers during that span, holding off the Midshipmen down the stretch.
The Norse outrebounded the Midshipmen 35-20 with Billups grabbing nine rebounds and Chad Jackson eight.
But despite shooting 50 percent (19 of 38) for the game, the Norse couldn't pull away, as the Midshipmen scored 26 points off of 20 Norse turnovers.
Tilman Dunbar led the Midshipmen with 12 points, while Brandon Venturini chipped in 11.
Notes: Northern Kentucky freshman Nate Snodgrass initially committed to Navy, but switched to the Norse over the summer. ... The Midshipmen came into the game having won four of their last six.
