HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Kevin Reinhardt came off the bench and scored a career-high 18 points Friday night as Northern Kentucky University defeated Gannon (Pa.) University, 88-81, in the first round of the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic in Regents Hall.
Reinhardt, a 6-foot-4 freshman forward, scored 15 points in the second half as NKU rallied from a 51-50 deficit with 13:52 remaining. His driving layup with 11:31 left gave NKU a 60-54 lead, and the Norse eventually built a 12-point advantage (81-69) with 3:12 remaining.
“Kevin Reinhardt gave us a huge lift with his play in the second half, and this is a good win over an excellent team,” said NKU head coach Ken Shields, who won his 292nd career game with the Norse.
Jesse Rupe added 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Norse, who are now 22-0 all-time in the first round of the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic. Rupe made 13 of 15 free throw attempts and also added two blocks and three steals.
“Jesse was a force for us inside, and this was one of his best games at NKU,” Shields said.
Mike Kelsey added 18 points for NKU, while freshman guard Kevin Schappell finished with a career-high 10 points off the bench. The Norse made just 39.4 percent of their shots from the field, but NKU converted 31 of 35 free throws.
Iren Rainey led Gannon (1-1) with 22 points, and Geoff Husted added 18 points. The Golden Knights made 50 percent of their shots from the field and were 7 of 20 from three-point range.
In the other first-round contest Friday, Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University posted an 86-67 win over West Virginia Wesleyan College. The undefeated Buccaneers (3-0) placed four players in double figures and rolled to the victory.
NKU will meet Christian Brothers at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in the championship game. NKU has captured the tournament championship 13 times, and the Norse have won the event four straight years.
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Kevin Reinhardt |