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UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Dustin Maguire scored a career-high 29 points and grabbed six rebounds as Northern Kentucky University posted a 79-74 victory at Saginaw Valley State on Monday night. A’Daeron Duncan added 16 points and nine rebounds for NKU (8-2), which is ranked 17th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. Dennis Gagai scored 12 points for the Norse, who defeated the Cardinals (1-8) for the second time this season. In the first meeting on Nov. 24, NKU cruised to a 76-44 victory over Saginaw Valley State in The Bank of Kentucky Center. NKU took a 40-36 halftime lead Monday night as Maguire poured in 17 points, but Saginaw Valley State rallied and eventually built a 51-46 edge with 13:57 remaining. Duncan answered with a basket for NKU, and Gagai followed with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 51-all. Maguire connected on a 3-pointer to give NKU a 67-64 lead with 5:52 left on the clock. Tony Rack knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the Norse advantage to 70-65, but Saginaw Valley State's Dante Williams followed with a trey to cut NKU's lead to 70-68. Maguire then made another 3-pointer with 2:12 remaining to extend NKU's edge to 73-68. Billy Finnell made a key basket in the final minute to give the Norse a 75-70 advantage, and Maguire knocked down four free throws in the closing seconds to seal the victory. Rack finished with eight points and five assists, while David McFarland added six points and four assists. NKU committed just six turnovers the entire game, only two of those in the second half. NKU plays a Great Lakes Valley Conference road game at Bellarmine on Friday in Louisville, Ky. Bellarmine is currently unbeaten (9-0) and ranked 13th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. The Norse continue the road trip Sunday with a game at 11th-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan. |
