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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Every basketball team needs a go-to player. And, as Northern Kentucky University demonstrated Thursday night, sometimes it's necessary to have two standout performers at winning time. Kevin Schappell scored a career-high 28 points and Steven Wright added 22 as NKU defeated Missouri-Rolla, 81-73, in Regents Hall. Schappell, a Loveland High School graduate, was 7-for-12 from the field and made all 11 of his free-throw attempts. He also made three shots from 3-point range and grabbed five rebounds as NKU improved to 10-4 overall, 3-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Wright also
made a trio of 3-point shots and grabbed a team-leading nine "Steve Wright and Kevin Schappell put us on their shoulders tonight, and we gutted out this win," NKU head coach Dave Bezold said. "Kevin made some big shots and was perfect at the line. Steve just continues to be one of the best players in this conference with his ability to score, rebound, play defense and make big shots. "It's great to have a go-to player, and tonight we had both of them to rely on for big plays. It was tough to watch us at times in the first half, but give Rolla a great deal of credit because they played very hard. We were able to generate a big run or two in the second half, and Steven and Kevin both had a lot to do with it." After Yamani Ball hit two free throws to tie the game at 43-all with 14:07 remaining in the game, NKU used a 10-2 run to take a 53-45 lead. Anthony Teague scored five points during the spurt, and Schappell drained a 3-pointer to cap the run. "It’s my senior year, and I just want to win. That’s all I want to do," he said. "It just hit me the other day that, as of right now, we have only seven home games left and that’s not very many. I’ve been here five years, so it’s all just winding down. "It makes me want to put the extra energy into doing whatever it takes like diving for a loose ball or whatever it takes just to get the win. We want to make it to the (NCAA) Tournament, and I’ve not been there yet."
After Missouri-Rolla cut the lead to 55-51, Schappell answered. He took a pass from Wright on the left wing and launched a 3-point shot with Miner defender Owain Hall charging at him. Hall bumped Schappell just as the shot was released, and the ball banked in as a foul was called. Schappell made the free throw for the four-point play, and the Norse again led by eight. "Huge shot when we needed it, even though he didn't call (the bank)," Bezold joked. Missouri-Rolla made it interesting in the final 40 seconds by knocking down a trio of long-range treys, but Wright, Schappell and Teague combined to hit eight free throws in the final 47 seconds to seal the win. The bench produced 46 points for NKU on Thursday night, with Schappell's 28 leading the way. "We knew that coming into this year that we were going to have depth," Wright said. "With Schappell coming off the bench, he gives a really good spark. With Schappell, he just works on his game all day and all night." Wright, who as emerged into one of the top all-around players in the GLVC, helped NKU win the rebounding battle by a 38-28 margin. The 6-foot-3 senior guard has led NKU in rebounding all season, and Thursday night was more of the same. Point guard Billy Finnell grabbed six rebounds for the Norse. "We rely on it as a team," Wright said of the rebounding by NKU's guards. "Coach tells us in practice that the guards have to come down and rebound because we become smaller inside when Cripe is out." Teague scored 13 points for the Norse, who shot 42.6 percent from the field. Joe Shardo led Missouri-Rolla (6-8, 1-6 GLVC) with 25 points. NKU will play host to Missouri-St. Louis at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. A year ago, the Rivermen defeated the Norse on a last-second shot at St. Louis, Mo. "It's another tough game coming up, but that's the story each time you play someone in the GLVC," Bezold said. "We need to win this game, but it's going to be a challenge because they are well-coached and have some talented basketball players." |
