NKU’s Harrison Morton

INDIANAPOLIS - The depth of Northern Kentucky University paid off once again during a 67-61 victory against Indianapolis on Tuesday night at Nicoson Hall.

As a result, the unbeaten Norse (6-0 overall) are in sole possession of first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East with a 3-0 record.

Harrison Morton came off the bench and scored eight key points in the second half for NKU, and reserve guard Billy Finnell drained a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute to seal the victory. Kevin Schappell, who was named the GLVC Player of the Week on Monday, added nine points off the bench as NKU won in Nicoson Hall for the first time since the 2001-02 season.

The Norse bench totaled 27 points, 12 rebounds and four steals Tuesday night. Morton, a sophomore forward from Lexington, Ky., had three steals.

NKU head coach Dave Bezold was not surprised by Morton’s performance.

“He had two very good practices this week, and I told our coaches that he had a different bounce about him,” Bezold said. “He came up very big in the second half when we were stagnant offensively. Harrison has been working hard in practice, and it showed on the court tonight.”

Kevin Reinhardt finished with 16 points and seven rebounds to lead NKU, while Vincent Humphrey added 14 points. The Norse shot 52.2 percent from the field - including 66.7 percent in the second half - to hold off the Greyhounds.

NKU held a 27-17 lead with just under six minutes left in the first half when David McFarland hit a 3-pointer, but Indianapolis closed with a 12-4 run to pull within 31-29 at the break.

The Norse led by seven points several times in the second half, but a layup by Braxton Mills with 1:33 remaining pulled Indianapolis within 60-57. Mills was also fouled on the play, but he missed the free throw.

NKU called a timeout with 42 seconds remaining and the shot clock showing 11 seconds. With the shot clock winding down, Finnell launched a 3-pointer that found the bottom of the net and extinguished any last-second comeback hopes for Indianapolis.

“They had the momentum, and they were playing a zone against us,” Bezold said. “Billy stepped up and took the big shot. Once it when in, it was a big relief.”

Gavin Ludgood scored eight points for the Norse, and McFarland added six points. Finnell finished with four points, three assists and four rebounds.

The Norse will meet unbeaten Saint Joseph’s (7-0 overall, 2-0 GLVC) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Rensselaer, Ind. Saint Joseph’s is ranked No. 8 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, and the Pumas were the preseason favorite to win the GLVC East.

NKU and Saint Joseph’s split two games last season, with each team winning on the road.

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