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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - An exceptionally strong bench provided Northern Kentucky University with many crucial plays Saturday night during a come-from-behind 75-69 win over Wayne (Mich.) State in Regents Hall. NKU received 52 points, 11 rebounds and eight steals from its bench en route to the victory during the final game of the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic. The Norse trailed by eight points (48-40) with 14:25 remaining in the game, but reserve guard Kevin Schappell sparked a 12-2 NKU with seven points. Vincent Humphrey - another key player off the NKU bench - capped the run by draining a 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Norse a 52-50 lead with 9:18 left on the clock. "We’re fortunate that we had people come off the bench and play really well and find a way to win," NKU head coach Dave Bezold said. "We had trouble getting our energy and getting into a flow tonight. (Against Ferris State) it was really easy because the shots fell, but tonight they didn’t fall so easily. "When that happens you have to figure out a way to win and grind it out and that’s what we did. Our bench is one of our strengths, and the ability to bring in a number of guys helped us win the game. We had a lot of people make big plays during that run, and then they closed it out by finishing at the end." After Wayne State tied the game at 52-all on a basket by Wynn Sarden, Steven Wright gave NKU a 55-52 advantage by nailing a 3-point shot. The Warriors tied the game again with 6:27 remaining, but Billy Finnell countered by making a short jumper in the lane to give NKU a 59-57 lead. Finnell added two free throws with 5:20 remaining to extend NKU's lead to 61-57, and David Jefferson later gave the Norse a 63-57 advantage by sinking a jumper in the lane. The 6-foot-7 freshman added two free throws with 2:30 left in the game to extend NKU's lead to 67-59, and Wright brought the crowd to its feet with less than a minute remaining by finishing off a breakaway with a resounding slam dunk. "We just kept fighting the whole game. We didn’t give up. We kept fighting until the end," said Schappell. "It shows what our depth can do for us. At the end of the game not many of our starters were in the game, but our bench came in and delivered, and we came back and took the lead." Wright finished with 17 points and was named the most outstanding player of the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic for NKU. The 6-3 transfer from Bowling Green added five rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes of action.
Finnell finished with 14 points, four assists and was named the recipient of the John L. Griffin Hustle Award for his play during the two-day event. The sophomore point guard was 7-for-8 from the line and added two rebounds. Junior forward Harrison Morton scored eight points, collected three steals and helped to contain Wayne State guard Kris Krzyminski. Kryzminski finished with a game-high 23 points and was named Wayne State's most outstanding player. Morton and several other NKU defenders, however, kept the high-scoring guard from getting easy looks at the basket. "(Kryzminski) did a great job. He reminded me of (former NKU standout Mike) Kelsey midway through the game," Bezold said. "When he started getting on a roll, we were getting kind of nervous because no matter what kind of defense you play on him, you can’t stop him. He’s got the ability to make the tough, tough shots no matter how you defend him." NKU (2-0) forced 20 turnovers and committed just 11 for the game. The Norse shot 50 percent from the field, including 54.5 percent in the second half. Wayne State sizzled from the field and finished at 58.1 percent for the game, but the Warriors could not overcome the turnovers and NKU's bench. During the two-day tournament, NKU's bench produced 96 points and 28 rebounds. Ferris State and Wayne State combined for a total of 16 points and 11 rebounds against the Norse. "It’s going to be like that for the rest of the season because we’re so deep," said Schappell, who earned honorable mention All-Great Lakes Valley Conference accolades last season. "Coach Bezold tells us that 'not everyone can play the piano but some people have to carry it.' By that statement he means that not everyone can play, but some people have to carry the idea and support the team. Everybody’s going to get their turn, but you have to wait for your turn sometimes." NKU is now 6-0 under Bezold in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic, and all six wins have come against teams from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. That's why the season-opening event is so important to the Norse. "We like being 6-0 (against the GLIAC) in this tournament.It’s been pretty good so far with the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic," Bezold said. "The last three years we’re 6-0 in it, so that’s good scheduling, I guess. Regional wins are very important. Especially down at the end because that’s the way you get an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament. And that’s our goal." In the other game Saturday night, Christian Brothers held off Ferris State, 67-62. NKU begins GLVC play Tuesday night at 8 p.m. with a road game against Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky. |
