HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Jesse Rupe scored 16 points and converted a pair of game-clinching free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining Monday night as Northern Kentucky University posted a 75-73 win over Quincy University in Regents Hall.
After Rupe hit the two free throws to give NKU a 75-71 lead with 7.5 seconds left, Quincy’s Jamal Thompson missed a three-pointer with two seconds remaining. Jordan Roth grabbed the offensive rebound and scored at the buzzer to account for the final margin.
Quincy held a 59-53 lead with 6:23 remaining in the game, but NKU used a 13-0 run to take a 66-59 advantage when Rupe converted a layup with 3:14 left. Brian Lewin and Steve Purdon both hit three-point shots to key the NKU spurt.
A layup by Thompson with 9.8 seconds left cut NKU’s lead to 73-71, and Quincy immediately fouled Rupe. He converted both free throws to seal the victory for the Norse.
Rupe, NKU’s 6-foot-10 center, also grabbed 11 rebounds in 23 minutes of action Monday. He made all four of his field goal attempts and was 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
Kevin Reinhardt scored 17 points to lead NKU, while Mike Kelsey added 16 points. Purdon scored 13 points for the Norse, who improved 5-3 overall, 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Thompson led Quincy (2-4 overall, 0-2 in the GLVC) with 16 points. Roth and Cory Cummens each added 12 points for the Hawks, who dropped to 0-8 all-time in Regents Hall.
NKU now leads the all-time series with Quincy, 16-1. The Hawks’ only victory in the series came during the 1998-99 season, when they pulled out an 86-83 overtime win at the Pepsi Arena.
NKU will hit the road for Romeoville, Ill., this Thursday for an 8:30 p.m. game against Lewis University. The Norse will conclude the two-game GLVC road trip with a 4 p.m. contest at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday.
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Jesse Rupe |