Milwaukee tops Northern Kentucky 82-75, moves on to Horizon League title game

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 11: Milwaukee Panthers Guard BJ Freeman (10) and Milwaukee Panthers Guard Langston Wilson (13) celebrate during the Horizon League Tournament Semi-Final basketball game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Milwaukee Panthers on March 11, 2024, at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 11: Milwaukee Panthers Guard BJ Freeman (10) and Milwaukee Panthers Guard Langston Wilson (13) celebrate during the Horizon League Tournament Semi-Final basketball game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Milwaukee Panthers on March 11, 2024, at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — BJ Freeman scored 27 points to guide No. 6 seed Milwaukee to an 82-75 victory over fifth-seeded Northern Kentucky on Monday night in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament.

Milwaukee (20-14) will play top-seeded Oakland in the championship game on Tuesday with an automatic NCAA Tournament berth going to the winner.

Freeman sank 9 of 24 shots, including 1 of 6 from 3-point range, and 8 of 12 free throws for the Panthers. Faizon Fields finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while blocking three shots. Kentrell Pullian added 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Trey Robinson scored a career-high 33 for the Norse (18-15). He made 11 of 19 shots with three 3-pointers and 8 of 9 foul shots, adding nine rebounds. LJ Wells totaled 15 points and six boards. Michael Bradley pitched in with 14 points and nine assists.