DETROIT — A valiant second-half comeback fell short Saturday as the NKU men’s basketball team saw its season end 86-69 against Milwaukee at historic Joe Louis Arena.

The inaugural season for the Norse in the Horizon League and under John Brannen ends at 9-21.

It appeared bleak for the Norse early in the second half, as Milwaukee opened a 52-30 lead with 17:43 left.

NKU slowly chipped away at the advantage. Free throws by Drew McDonald, a dunk by Lavone Holland II and a basket by McDonald pulled the Norse within 11, 57-46, with 9:59 remaining.

After a couple of Panther free throws, Cole Murray drained a three followed by another McDonald jumper. Once down 22, NKU trailed by just 8, 59-51, with 9:11 left.

Milwaukee didn’t allow the Norse any closer. The Panthers gradually pushed the advantage back to 22 points and cruised to the victory.

Senior Tyler White closed his NKU career by leading the Norse with 23 points. Holland and McDonald added 13 points.

Milwaukee had three players score in double figures, led by Matt Tiby with 21. Austin Arians added 18 points while Jordan Johnson had 14.

Summary

Saturday, March 5, 2016

@ Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

Milwaukee 86, Northern Kentucky 69

N — 28 – 41 — 69
M — 44 – 42 — 86

(69) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Garnett 1-0-0-2, White 9-2-3-23, Holland 5-2-1-13, Billups 1-0-1-3, Murray 3-3-0-9, Cole 2-2-0-6, McDonald 4-1-4-13. TOTALS 25-10-9-69.

(86) MILWAUKEE (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Johnson 3-1-7-14, Springs 3-1-2-9, Panoske 2-0-0-4, Tiby 6-2-7-21, Arians 6-3-3-18, Stull 4-1-0-9, Wichmann 2-2-0-6, Lyle 2-1-0-5. TOTALS 28-11-19-86.

FIELD GOALS: N 25/55 (White 9/18, Holland 5/10, McDonald 4/6, Murray 3/6); M 28/51 (Tiby 6/12, Arians 6/9, Stull 4/5, Johnson 3/4, Springs 3/9)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: N 10/21 (Murray 3/5, Cole 2/3, White 2/6); M 11/23 (Arians 3/5)

FREE THROWS: N 9/18 (McDonald 4/6, White 3/4); M 19/23 (Johnson 7/8, Tiby 7/8)

REBOUNDS: N 31 (Billups 5, Holland 4, McDonald 4); M 29 (Tiby 11, Springs 4)

ASSISTS: N 10 (White 3); M 21 (Johnson 8, Panoske 4, Tiby 4)

STEALS: N 5; M 9 (Wichmann 3)

BLOCKED SHOTS: N 3; M 2

TURNOVERS: N 12; M 9