NKU shot a blistering 50 percent in the first half and 48 percent for the game Thursday as they cruised to an 84-64 win over Youngstown State.

The victory is the first-ever Horizon League win for the Norse (5-10, 1-3 in Horizon League). Youngstown State falls to 7-11 overall, 2-3 in the league.

A 19-1 run in the first half put the game out of reach early. NKU led 46-28 at the intermission. The Penguins never seriously threatened in the second half.

Tyler White led NKU with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Drew McDonald added 16 points. Jalen Billups also scored in double figures with 14 points. Cole Murray added 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Cameron Morse and Matt Donlan provided most of Youngstown State’s offense. Morse scored 29 while Donlan added 15. They combined for 44 of YSU’s 64 points.

NKU dominated the boards, outrebounding Youngstown State 47-32, including 12-5 on the offensive glass.

The Norse also racked up 22 assists on 36 field goals. Lavone Holland II had 8 assists while White had 6.

Northern Kentucky will look for back-to-back home Horizon League wins 7 p.m. Saturday against Cleveland State.

Summary

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016

@ BB&T Arena, Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky 84, Youngstown State 64

Y — 28 – 36 — 64
N — 46 – 38 — 84

(64) YOUNGSTOWN STATE (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Donlan 6-3-0-15, Morse 10-2-7-29, Santiago 0-0-1-1, Davis 1-0-2-4, Kaufman 3-0-1-7, Nickels 4-0-0-8. TOTALS 24-5-11-64.

(84) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Billups 6-0-2-14, White 9-2-0-20, Holland II 1-0-1-3, Murray 4-3-0-11, Cole 3-2-0-8, Gillis 2-0-1-5, Giesler 1-0-0-2, McDonald 8-0-0-16, Danos 2-1-0-5. TOTALS 36-8-4-84.

FIELD GOALS: Y 24/62 (Morse 10/16, Donlan 6/11, Nickels 4/5); N 36/75 (White 9/24, McDonald 8/13, Billups 6/7, Murray 4/8)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: Y 5/14 (Donlan 3/5, Morse 2/4); N 8/24 (Murray 3/6, White 2/8, Cole 2/3)

FREE THROWS: Y 11/15 (Morse 7/8); N 4/6

REBOUNDS: Y 32 (Andrews 6, Kaufman 6, Donlan 5, Morse 4, Davis 4); N 47 (White 9, Holland 7, Murray 7, Giesler 6, McDonald 5)

ASSISTS: Y 13 (Morse 4, Santiago 4): N 22 (Holland 8, White 6, Cole 3)

STEALS: Y 1; N 5

BLOCKED SHOTS: Y 4 (Nickels 3); N 5 (Billups 2)

TURNOVERS: Y 9; N 7