Northrop blitzed SAC-foe Bishop Luers Friday night in the conference opener for both teams, going on a 21-2 run to start the third quarter, and were never challenged after that point. Senior guard and UIC signee Jalen Jackson paced Northrop with 25 points, while four other Bruins scored between nine and 15 points.

 

Bishop Luers came out in a junk defense, keying in on Northrop's high-scoring Jalen Jackson. Nick Thompson was given the task, but that didn't stop Jackson from getting out and doing damage in transition to the tune of nine first-quarter points. A physical game helped rack out fouls on both teams, and the unorthodox defense from the Knights helped limit the other Northrop Bruins to just two points in the opening period, which allowed Luers to gain a one-point advantage.

 

The lead changed hands multiple times early on in the second, as both teams reached the bonus with over six minutes left in the half. Made shots were hard to come by, but free throws were not, as Northrop used the line to extend their lead to as many as seven points.

 

Luers would close the gap before halftime thanks to a driving Nick Thompson bucket and corner three from Jaylon Hill in the final minute.

 

Coming out of the locker room, it was all the visitors from the north side, as hot perimeter shooting carried the Bruins to a 21-2 run over the first four and a half minutes of the third. Triples from Jayden Schmenk, Roosevelt Norfleet, and Dalman Alexander coupled with turnovers for Luers helped blow the game wide open. When shots weren't raining down from deep, it was Jaydon Smith and Jalen Jackson putting pressure on an inexperienced Luers defense by attacking the paint.

 

A 29-16 third quarter was the result, as nearly everything went right for the Bruins. Junior forward Dalman Alexander led the Bruins defensive effort. The 6'5 Alexander showcased his springs by blocking or altering shots whenever a Knight ventured into the paint.

 

The fourth quarter was more of the same, as Northrop would do plenty of scoring in the paint and at the foul line in the final period. All totaled, four Northrop Bruins reached double figures, while Roosevelt Norfleet came off the bench to bury all three of his three-point tries to chip in nine points.

 

Sophomore point guard Cadell Wallace led Bishop Luers with 15 points, aided by a perfect 9-9 night at the free-throw line. Sophomore wing Isaac Zay added 11, and junior wing Nick Thompson joined them in double figures with 10 points.

 

 

Northrop      11  24  29  21  -  85

Bishop Luers  12  19  16  14  -  61

 

Northrop: Jalen Jackson 25 points (9/14 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 6/9 FTs), 5 rebs; Jayden Schmenk 15 points (5/8 FGs, 3/4 3Ps, 2/5 FTs), 2 rebs, 3 asts, 4 stls; Jaydon Smith 13 points (5/11 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 2/3 FTs), 9 rebs, 7 asts, 2 stls; Dalman Alexander 12 points (3/9 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 5/5 FTs), 9 rebs, 4 blks; Roosevelt Norfleet 9 points (3/3 3Ps), 2 rebs; Devin Campos 5 points (2/3 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 4 rebs; Steve Mon 2 points (1/2 FGs); Jeff Maxwell 1 point (1/2 FTs)

 

Bishop Luers: Cadell Wallace 15 points (3/10 FGs, 9/9 FTs), 4 asts, 3 stls; Isaac Zay 11 points (4/10 FGs, 2/7 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 8 rebs; Nick Thompson 10 points (2/11 FGs, 6/11 FTs), 6 rebs, 4 asts; Jaxon Keller 8 points (4/7 FGs), 3 rebs; Omare Bates 6 points (3/5 FGs), 5 rebs; Nelson Knapke 6 points (3/9 FGs), 2 rebs; Jayden Hill 3 points (1/3 3Ps), 2 rebs; Charles Powell 2 points (1/2 FGs)