Northern Kentucky coasts to 81-60 win over Norfolk State

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (AP) Jalen Billups scored 23 points on 11-for-16 shooting and Cole Murray sank six 3-pointers to lead Northern Kentucky to an 81-60 win over Norfolk State on Sunday night.

Billups also had nine rebounds and Murray finished with 22 points.

Tyler White added 13 points and Jordan Garnett scored a career-high 10 for Northern Kentucky (2-5), which hit 57 percent of its 54 shots from the field and sank 11 of 20 from long range.

Norfolk State (4-5) closed to within three after scoring seven of the first nine points in the second half. But then the Norse broke away with a 12-2 run that included one of Murray's 3-pointers and made it 45-32. The margin stayed in double figures as Northern Kentucky padded its advantage the rest of the way.

Charles Oliver paced Norfolk State with 11 points, Jeff Short and Jonathan Wade added 10 apiece.