Gavin Ludgood (34) challenges Eric Hicks

CINCINNATI - Torrid shooting from the field keyed the University of Cincinnati’s 96-60 victory over Northern Kentucky University in an exhibition game Saturday night.

Cincinnati shot 66.7 percent from the field - including 76 percent in the second half - and cruised to its second exhibition victory of the preseason. The Bearcats also used 10-for-20 shooting from 3-point range and a 33-26 rebounding advantage to knock off NKU for the fifth consecutive year in their annual exhibition contest in front of a crowd of 6,937 at the Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center.

“That is the best shooting I have seen out of those guys since (former Bearcat All-American Steve) Logan’s last year. That is a great shooting team,” NKU head coach Dave Bezold said of Cincinnati. “Xavier (which NKU played the previous week) has more size and depth, but UC has better shooters from the perimeter.”

Eric Hicks led Cincinnati with 18 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Hicks, a 6-foot-6 senior post player, netted 13 points in the second half.

James White scored Cincinnati’s first eight points with a pair of 3-pointers and a resounding breakaway dunk as the Bearcats jumped out to an 8-3 lead. Cincinnati eventually forged a 19-6 advantage with 12:05 remaining in the first half when Jihad Muhammad drained a 3-pointer.

NKU battled back behind six straight points from sophomore center Travis Rasso to cut Cincinnati’s lead to 23-15 with 8:56 left in the half. Hicks and Devan Downey responded with consecutive baskets to extend Cincinnati’s advantage to 27-15, but Mark Hawkins hit a long 3-pointer from the left wing to bring NKU within 27-18.

Billy Finnell drives past Jihad Muhammad

Chadd Moore sparked a 16-9 Bearcat run to end the half by making a pair of 3-pointers as Cincinnati took a 43-27 advantage at the break. The Bearcats shot 58.6 percent from the field in the first half and limited NKU to 36.7 percent from the floor.

White scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the first half, while Moore tallied all eight of his points during the opening 20 minutes. Gavin Ludgood scored nine of his team-leading 14 points for NKU before halftime.

Late in the second half, Cincinnati used a 25-5 run to build a 92-56 lead. Armein Kirkland keyed the Bearcat spurt with 12 of his 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Kevin Reinhardt scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds for NKU, which made 21 of 29 free throws. Hawkins and Rasso each finished with eight points for the Norse, who shot 31.5 percent from the field for the game.

NKU begins the regular season at 7:45 p.m. this Friday (Nov. 18) against Findlay in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic in Regents Hall. Findlay is ranked sixth nationally in the Division II Bulletin preseason poll, and the Oilers advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

Findlay, a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, posted a 30-4 record last season.

The Norse will meet Saginaw Valley State at 7:45 p.m. Nov. 19 in the final game of the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic. NKU will also play host to Grand Valley State on Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 23) at 6:30 p.m. in Regents Hall.

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