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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The winning streak is now at six games for the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team, which posted a 77-68 victory over Massachusetts Lowell on Friday night in Regents Hall. Vincent Humphrey and Scott Bibbins combined for 33 points as NKU improved to 7-1. Humphrey finished with 17 points and eight rebounds for the Norse. Bibbins netted 16 points and dished out three assists as the Norse shot 50 percent from the field and coasted to the win. “It was nice to play a really good team after the Christmas break and to get a win out of it,” NKU head coach Dave Bezold said. “We have a variety of guys that we can put out on the floor who can change the game. At different times, they all helped us in this game and our depth was a factor.” Dennis Gagai finished with 11 points off the bench for NKU, which led by as many as 15 points. Gagai drained a pair of 3-pointers against the UMass Lowell zone to key a 10-0 run in the second half as NKU extended a 45-40 lead into a 55-40 advantage. “They played a lot of zone, which we haven’t seen a lot of this season,” Humphrey said. “You can practice against it and try to simulate it, but it’s different once you get out here and see it because it is a lot quicker. I think we handled it really well and we came away with a win.” Kevin Carr led UMass Lowell (4-5) with 18 points. The River Hawks owned a three-game winning streak entering Friday's contest. NKU took care of the basketball most of the evening and committed only nine turnovers. In an attempt to get back into the game, UMass Lowell continually fouled in the closing minutes and sent NKU to the free-throw line for 17 attempts in the final 2:33 of the game. Bezold credited Bibbins’ play as a major reason for NKU’s early success. “He has been pretty consistent, and we’re going to have to continue to get that from him,” Bezold said. “We’ve been asking him to give us some scoring from as the point guard and to be aggressive, which he was tonight. He is a good basketball player and has provided a good spark for us this year. “He was a big loss for us last year when he went out with a broken arm and some people just don’t understand that. When he left us, it kind of hurt the team.” NKU plays host to North Alabama at 1 p.m. Saturday. NKU then resumes Great Lakes Valley Conference play Jan. 3, when Rockhurst visits Regents Hall for a 7:45 p.m. game. The Norse also play host to Drury on Jan. 5 at 3:15 p.m. “We had to come out sharp tonight, and we’ve got to do the same (Saturday) afternoon, because that is going to say a lot about our team,” Bibbins said. “Coming back to play at 1 o’clock after a tough night game will say a lot about us.”
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