Pat Cary

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - From a shooter’s point of view, it was a perfect performance by Northern Kentucky University’s Pat Cary.

Cary scored 17 points Saturday night and did not miss a shot as NKU eased past Northern Michigan, 73-62, in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic. Cary, a 6-foot-9 senior center, made all six of his attempts from the field and was 5-for-5 from the free throw line.

He also added four blocked shots and was named the Norse’s most outstanding player of the two-day event in Regents Hall. NKU defeated both Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan during the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic in Dave Bezold’s debut as Norse head coach.

Cary said the NKU players were determined to make their head coach’s first weekend of calling the shots on the sideline a winning experience.

“We came out last night real pumped up for Michigan Tech because we knew they were sixth in the nation, and we wanted to knock them off,” Cary said of NKU’s 55-53 win over the sixth-ranked Huskies.

“And, tonight we just wanted to get the win, and we knew we were the better team. We came out and knew we could win, and we just had to get it done.”

Kevin Reinhardt added 16 points - including 12 straight in the first half - as NKU improved to 2-0. The Norse shot 55.3 percent from the field for the game and held Northern Michigan to 41.8 percent from the floor to notch the victory.

Kevin Reinhardt

Reinhardt keyed a 15-0 run in the first half that turned a 22-19 Northern Michigan lead into a 34-22 NKU edge with 2:52 remaining. The 6-4 sophomore hit a three-pointer and a short jumper to give NKU a 24-22 lead with 7:25 left before halftime, and the Norse then scored the next 10 points for a 34-22 advantage.

Steve Purdon and Brian Lewin drained consecutive three-pointers during the first-half run for NKU. Lewin scored all seven of his points in the first half, while Purdon finished with nine points.

NKU led by as many as 18 points in the second half and was never threatened. Northern Michigan cut the deficit to eight points (64-56) with 4:15 remaining, but Cary responded with a tip-in to extend the Norse’s lead to 66-56.

“Our common theme this year, and I told them after the game in the locker room again, and they are probably going to get tired of me saying this, every night it is going to be something, somebody different as far as the way we are going to have to win basketball games,” Bezold said.

“And, tonight it was Pat Cary and Kevin Reinhardt, and the other night it happened to be Harrison Morton. It was very important to the ball club to have a cushion at the back end of the game because that’s a good basketball team we just played.”

Sean Rowland earned the John L. Griffin Hustle Award after dishing out five assists and grabbing a team-leading six rebounds. He also had two steals.

Mike Kelsey

Mike Kelsey added 14 points for NKU, which hit 76.5 percent of its free throws. Jordan Stowers added six assists for the Norse, who were 13-for-17 at the charity stripe.

Ricky Volcy led Northern Michigan (0-2) with 20 points. NKU is now 2-0 all-time against the Wildcats.

In the other game Saturday, Michigan Tech held off Christian Brothers, 55-52. The pairings for the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic were predetermined this season, switching from the traditional tournament format.

As a result, NKU was able to face two teams from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the event. That could become a major factor in March because the GLIAC competes with the Great Lakes Valley Conference for NCAA Division II Tournament berths.

“They are GLIAC teams, so they are in our region. And, we know we have to go up to their places over Christmas break, so we needed to win both games,” Rowland said. “Plus, we expect to win every time we go out there, and anything less would be a disappointment.”

NKU will play host to Thomas More at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday night in Regents Hall in the Remke Market Campus Classic. The Norse begin GLVC play at 8:30 p.m. Friday with a road game at Kentucky Wesleyan.