Twenty percent of the way through Horizon League regular season conference play, the Northern Kentucky men’s basketball team sits alone in first place after their first road victory of the season on Saturday.
NKU (9-6, 4-0) stifled IUPUI (3-11, 0-3) in a 55-42 victory, holding the Jaguars to just 36 percent shooting. While the Norse had some offensive struggles of their own at just 37 percent from the field, they won the turnover battle by committing just five mistakes to IUPUI’s 20.
The Norse collected 12 steals, four of them from Chris Brandon as Marques Warrick led the way in the scoring department with 15 points, moving into 22nd all-time in school history with 1,221 career points. Warrick also added five assists. Sam Vinson chipped in 12 points, Xavier Rhodes with nine, Trey Robinson tossing in eight.
The win ties a Norse Division I era record for best start in conference play in school history. NKU returns to action on Friday when they host Oakland at 7 p.m.
IUPUI 68, NKU women 65
The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team (8-5, 2-2) saw its five-game winning streak snapped with a tough 68-65 road loss to the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis Jaguars (6-6, 2-1).
It marked Northern Kentucky’s first road game in one month and seven days dating back to a 76-68 loss at 11-1 Bowling Green on November 23. The Norse are 1-3 on the road this year.
The Norse did not get off to a good start falling behind 13-4 to start the game. But Northern Kentucky rallied and had a chance at the end down 66-65 with the ball after graduate student forward/center Emmy Souder rejected an IUPUI shot near the basket. But sophomore guard Kailee Davis’ three-point shot with eight seconds left did not go and the Jaguars made two free throws at the other end with three seconds left to make the final score.
IUPUI won the rebounding battle, 39-32 and shot 51 percent from the field including 31 percent from three-point range and 63 percent from the free-throw line. The Norse hit 31 percent from the field including just 17 percent from three-point land. The Norse outscored the Jaguars, 21-10 in points off turnovers. But the IUPUI bench had nine points compared to none for Northern Kentucky.
Graduate student guard Lindsey Duvall scored 26 points and had seven rebounds making 10-of-13 free throws for the Norse. Duvall has scored 20 or more points five times this year.
Davis scored 12 points to go with three steals and two assists. Senior guard Ivy Turner had 10 points to go with five rebounds and two assists and Souder had 10 points, eight rebounds and one block. Turner and Davis have eight games in double figures this year and Souder has five.
Northern Kentucky takes on the Milwaukee Panthers (4-7) on Thursday at 7 p.m. back at Truist Arena.
Thomas More women 122, West Virginia Tech 61
The NAIA’s top-ranked Saints (15-0) ventured to Montgomery, West Virginia and came away with a huge win.
Thirteen different Saints scored in the win including six in double figures. Conner graduate Courtney Hurst led the way with 19 points and Simon Kenton graduate Mattison Vickers scored 15 with Highlands graduate Zoie Barth and Kelly Brenner scoring 14 each. Emily Simon and Sammi Whiteman scored 12 points each.
Thomas More plays host to Campbellsville on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to continue Mid-South Conference play.
Thomas More men 85, Roosevelt University (Illinois) 72
The Saints (12-2) won their second game in the St. Francis (Illinois) Classic in Joliet.
Five Saints scored in double figures. Casey George led the way with 25 points and Campbell County graduate Reid Jolly followed with 16. St. Henry graduate Wyatt Vieth and Noah Pack scored 11 points each and Kyle Ross scored 10.
Thomas More plays host to Campbellsville on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Mid-South Conference play.
