ROLLA, Mo. – In a game that had already been backed up a day due to weather, Missouri S&T's men's basketball team tried to change a couple of other things in an effort to snap a losing streak Friday night, but its struggles in the second half allowed 24^th-ranked Northern Kentucky to leave Billy Key Court with a 71-60 victory.

The Miners switched benches prior to Friday's game and used a starting lineup they had not employed in a game all season, then came out and played with their nationally-ranked opponent throughout the first half. S&T built an early six points lead after a three-point play by Aaron Hays (Kirksville, Mo./Kirksville) at the 12:25 mark, then after the Norse made a run to take the lead, took a pair of four-point leads late in the half.

A basket by Filmore Bouldes (Romulus, Mich./Romulus) – who got a starting assignment Friday – gave S&T a 31-27 lead with 4:17 remaining in the half. NKU scored five straight to regain the lead, but the Miners answered back with five in a row themselves, capped by a three-pointer by Maurice Grinter (Louisville, Ky./Fairdale) with 1:16 remaining to put S&T up 36-32. 

The Miners would lead 37-34 at the half after shooting 50 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes of play.

However, the Norse came out flying to start the second half, scoring 13 of the first 16 points of the second half to take a seven-point lead in the first three minutes. NKU maintained the lead and held a seven-point advantage again with 9:52 left after a three-pointer by Malcolm Eleby, but the Miners made a 10-3 spurt and tied the game at 55 on Bryce Foster (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central)'s jumper with 6:26 to play.

NKU would regain the lead for good on its next trip down the floor when Chris Knight made one of two at the line, which was followed by a driving layup by Ethan Faulkner and a three-pointer by Jon Van Hoose that gave the Norse a six-point lead again.

Foster made two free throws moments later, then hit one of two at the line 90 seconds later to bring S&T to within three at 61-58. Van Hoose nailed another three to extend the margin back to six, then the Miners were called for charging fouls on drives to the basket on back-to-back trips down the floor to prevent them from cutting into the advantage. NKU wrapped up the win by making five-of-six at the line in the final minute.

After the solid first half from the floor, the Miners shot only 28 percent from the floor in the second half – going more than seven minutes without a basket in one stretch – and finished the night at 37.8 percent. Foster led all scorers with 22 points as he went seven-of-10 from the floor. Hays added 12 points and Tommy Pelczynski (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) finished with 11.

Northern Kentucky (17-4, 10-3 GLVC) had three players score in double figures – all coming off the bench – as Faulkner and Van Hoose scored 12 apiece and Knight finished with 10. The Norse shot 52.2 percent in the second half to finish at 47.1 percent for the contest.

The Miners (6-14, 2-11 GLVC) will square off with No. 2-ranked Bellarmine Sunday at 2 p.m. at Billy Key Court. The Knights picked up their 20^th win of the season Friday with a 76-56 victory at Maryville.