ST. LOUIS - Ronnie Banks and Jonathan Griffin combined for 31 points Saturday as the University of Missouri-St. Louis defeated Northern Kentucky University, 82-62, at the Mark Twain Building.
Banks finished with 17 points and seven assists as Missouri-St. Louis won its third straight game and improved to 9-12 overall, 5-9 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Griffin added 14 points and six assists for the Rivermen, who built a 44-29 halftime lead and coasted to the victory.
Jesse Rupe scored 20 points to lead NKU, which dropped to 14-10 overall, 7-7 in the GLVC. The Norse shot just 32.4 percent from the field and were 4-for-22 from three-point range.
“When you shoot 32 percent from the field and 18 percent from three-point range it is hard to win,” said NKU head coach Ken Shields.
Missouri-St. Louis used a 22-6 run in the first half to build a 30-16 lead on a three-point basket by Sherome Cole. The Rivermen led the entire second half and were never threatened.
“We couldn't make a shot. We got the ball inside but we couldn't put the ball in the basket,” said Shields.
Missouri-St. Louis used 41 bench points to coast to the win. Kevin Nordmann and Jared Pratt both chipped in 13 points off the bench for the Rivermen.
Steve Purdon added 14 points for NKU, and Pat Cary finished with eight points. The Norse played without leading scorer Mike Kelsey, who missed the game due to a knee injury.
NKU will play host to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville at 7:45 p.m. this Thursday in Regents Hall.
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Jesse Rupe |