MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — A 14-4 run over the final four minutes Monday propelled Milwaukee to a 76-67 victory over Northern Kentucky at UMW Panther Arena.

NKU (4-9, 0-2 in Horizon League) held a 63-62 lead with 4:18 remaining thanks to a Jordan Garnett layup.

Aaron Jordan answered with a three-point play at the other end for Milwaukee to give the Panthers a 65-63 lead. After JayQuan McCloud scored to give the Panthers a 67-63 lead, Lavone Holland scored to pull the Norse within two.

However, NKU scored just two more points over the final 3:10. Panther JJ Panoske had three blocks over a two-minute stretch to stymie the Norse offense.

Holland led NKU with a career-high 19 points.. He also had 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Drew McDonald, named Horizon League freshman of the week Monday, continued his strong play with 14 points and 7 rebounds.

Five different Panther players scored in doubles figures, led by Jordan Aaron’s 23 points. He also had 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Matt Tiby had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Two stats directly impacted the outcome. Milwaukee shot 30 free throws compared to just 8 for Northern Kentucky. The Panthers outscored the Norse 23-8 at the line. In addition, Milwaukee recorded 14 blocked shots, led by Panoske’s 8.

NKU will play its first home Horizon League contest 1 p.m. Saturday against Wright State.

Summary

Monday, Jan. 4, 2016

@ UMW Panther Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee 76, Northern Kentucky 67

N – 34 – 33 — 67
M – 32 – 44 — 76

(67) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Garnett 4-1-0-9, Billups 3-0-0-6, White 3-0-0-6, Holland II 7-3-2-19, Murray 3-1-0-7, Cole 1-0-0-2, Gillis 2-0-0-4, McDonald 4-0-6-14. TOTALS 27-5-8-67.

(76) MILWAUKEE (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Panoske 4-2-3-13, Tiby 3-0-5-11, Arians 1-0-0-2, Aaron 7-0-9-23, Springs 4-2-2-12, McCloud 4-0-2-10, Lyle 1-1-2-5. TOTALS 24-5-23-76.

FIELD GOALS: N 27/72 (Holland 7/18, Garnett 4/7, McDonald 4/12); M 24/52 (Aaron 7/12, Panoske 4/6, McCloud 4/7)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: N 5/20 (Holland 3/6); M 5/14 (Panoske 2/3, Springs 2/3)

FREE THROWS: N 8/8 (McDonald 6/6); M 23/30 (Aaron 9/13, Tiby 5/6)

REBOUNDS: N 36 (Holland 8, Garnett 7, McDonald 7, Billups 6); M 39 (Tiby 10, Aaron 8, Springs 7)

ASSISTS: N 13 (Holland 4, Garnett 3); M 11 (Aaron 5)

STEALS: N 4; M 3

BLOCKED SHOTS: N 4 (Billups 2); M 14 (Panoske 8, Tiby 3, McCloud 2)

TURNOVERS: N 7; M 12