HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.—Stetson men's basketball got off to a slow start for the second straight game on Saturday at Northern Kentucky. But unlike Thursday, this time there was no near-miraculous comeback.
Two nights after nearly rallying for a win at Lipscomb, the Hatters fell flat against the Norse.
The Hatters shot 37.5 percent from the field and allowed the Norse to convert at a 49.2 percent clip in an 82-57 Atlantic Sun Conference loss, Saturday at the Bank of Kentucky Center.
Grant Lozoya led Stetson (8-18, 2-8) with 16 points and Kentwan Smith added 14, but NKU dominated nearly every facet of the game. Tayler Persons led the Norse with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Stetson head coach Corey Williams was not pleased after the game.
“They did whatever they wanted on offense,” he said. “They shot the ball terrific, and a lot of that had to do with us. Our defense was very poor tonight. We just didn't have it tonight for whatever reason. They had more energy than us throughout the game and it showed. I'm so disappointed. I didn't think the effort was there tonight.”
Northern Kentucky (11-14, 5-5) led 42-25 at halftime, and the lead swelled to as many as 31 when Chad Jackson's layup made it 64-33 with 10:34 left in the game.
Lozoya finished 6-of-11 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers. Smith was 6-of-14 from the floor and added seven rebounds and two blocks. Angel Rivera chipped in 10 points.
The Hatters next host USC Upstate, 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 19 at Edmunds Center.
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