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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team will play host to Thomas More at 7 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall. NKU is 2-1 after dropping a 78-66 decision at Bellarmine on Tuesday night. Bellarmine connected on 63.3 percent from the field in the second half and cruised past the Norse in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for both teams. The Knights used a 24-7 run in the second half to erase a 44-43 deficit and never trailed again. NKU jumped out to a 12-5 lead early in the game behind the scoring of James Cripe and Harrison Morton. Bellarmine, however, battled back and forged a 32-all tie at the break. Cripe led NKU with 17 points, while Morton scored 14 and grabbed six rebounds. Vincent Humphrey and Anthony Teague each scored 10 points for the Norse, who were 20-for-33 from the free-throw line. WRIGHT EARNS GLVC HONOR: NKU's Steven Wright was named the GLVC Player of the Week for his performance during the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic last weekend. Wright, a graduate of Colonel White High School in Dayton, Ohio, averaged 18 points per game and shot 70 percent from the field as NKU defeated a pair of foes from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He also connected on 57.1 of his 3-point attempts and averaged 4.0 rebounds per contest. ABOUT THOMAS MORE: The Saints are 0-3 following a 74-68 loss to Mount St. Joseph. Thomas More is an NCAA Division III affiliate. THE LAST TIME AGAINST THOMAS MORE: On Dec. 23, 2005, NKU shot 55.9 percent from the field en route to an 85-39 win over Thomas More in Regents Hall. Kevin Schappell scored 20 of his game-high 25 points in the first half to lead NKU. Schappell made six 3-point field goals and was 9-for-15 from the field. He also added three rebounds and an assist. Vincent Humphrey and Mark Hawkins each added 13 points for the Norse, who were 12-for-21 in 3-point attempts. Hawkins hit a trio of 3-point shots in the first half as NKU built a 45-24 lead. NKU opened the second half with a 23-2 run to build 68-26 lead. The Norse eventually extended the advantage to 50 points (81-31) and coasted to the victory. NKU has beaten Thomas More 20 consecutive times and holds a 29-5 lead in the all-time series with the Saints. NKU has not lost to Thomas More since the 1980-81 season, when the Saints defeated the Norse by a 61-52 score in Regents Hall. NORSE FACES GLVC HEAVYWEIGHTS NEXT WEEK: NKU will play host to Quincy and defending regional champion Southern Illinois at Edwardsville next week. Quincy visits Regents Hall Thursday for a 7:45 p.m. game, and SIUE will meet NKU at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. Quincy and SIUE are both expected to challenge for the GLVC West Division title this season. The NKU/SIUE game will be televised live on ICN-6. |
