Aaron Smith scored 14 points

ROLLA, Mo. - Aaron Smith’s ability to shoot from the perimeter is going to cause major problems for teams which play zone defenses against Northern Kentucky University.

Just ask Missouri-Rolla, which employed a zone against NKU on Saturday afternoon.

Smith found the zone defense to his liking and scored a career-high 14 points to lead NKU to a 71-43 win over Missouri-Rolla. A junior guard who missed much of this season with a foot injury, Smith drained four 3-pointers against the Miners.

“I was concentrating on taking shots in the flow of the offense, and my teammates did a great job of finding me,” said Smith, who hit a trio of 3-pointers in the first half en route to scoring 11 points before the break.

“We did a great job of coming out in the second half and putting them away, because you don’t want them to stay in the game.”

A transfer from North Lake (Texas) Community College, the 6-foot-3 Smith also added two rebounds Saturday in just his third start of the season.

“Coach (Dave Bezold) showed a great deal of confidence in me by giving me the start,” said Smith, who made 80 3-point shots at North Lake last season.

Vincent Humphrey scored 19 points to lead the Norse, who improved to 10-5 overall, 5-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Humphrey also made all three of his 3-point attempts and was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Billy Finnell added 11 points, six assists and five rebounds as NKU finished 12-for-24 from 3-point range. The Norse also committed just nine turnovers and finished with a 39-23 advantage on the boards.

Kevin Schappell scored nine points and hit a pair of 3-pointers for NKU, while teammate Travis Rasso added six points and seven rebounds. The Norse shot 54.5 percent from the field in the second half and handed Missouri-Rolla (2-13, 0-7 GLVC) its 10th consecutive loss.

David McFarland collected six assists and grabbed five rebounds as NKU defeated Missouri-Rolla in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

NKU will begin a three-game homestand Thursday at 7:45 p.m. when Lewis visits Regents Hall. The Norse will play host to Wisconsin-Parkside at 3:15 p.m. next Saturday.

BOX SCORE