UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – Saginaw Valley State lost a 79-74 decision to the number 17 team in the country despite shooting 52-percent. The Cardinals led by five at one point in the second half.

Dante Williams (Romulus, Mich. /East Tenn. State) and Avery Stephenson (Romulus, Mich. /Nebraska-Kearney) led the Cardinals with 16 and 12 points, respectively; while Stephenson also had seven first half rebounds. Dustin Maguire led the Norse with 17 points in the first half. Despite shooting 61% in the half the Cardinals still trailed at the half 40-36 after Williams hit a 35-foot runner at the buzzer.

In the second half the Cardinals were lead by Adam Gries’ (Freemont, OH / Ross HS) 14 second half points. The Cardinals turned the ball over only twice in the second half, but Northern Kentucky’s clutch free throw shooting and 17 bench points gave them a comeback victory. Williams tied a career- high with 27 points while Gries had 20 points for the game on 9-of-11 shooting. Stephenson had a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds. Northern Kentucky was led by Dustin Maguire with 29 points and A’Daeron Duncan with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Northern Kentucky improves to 8-2 on the season while the Cardinals fall to 1-8. Saginaw Valley travels to Sault Ste. Marie to take on Lake Superior State on January 3rd at 3:00 pm.