The Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More University men’s basketball teams were victorious in their postseason openers on Tuesday night, putting up a lot of points.
The two had home games, NKU taking down Detroit in the first round of the Horizon League Conference Tournament, the Saints defeating Lake Erie College in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament.
NKU 99, Detroit 75
The Norse posted their highest point total of the season at the right time. They led 49-37 at halftime and won going away by 24.
Four hit double figure scoring led by Dan Gherezger’s 19-point effort, also collecting four rebounds with three assists. Trey Robinson had 18 points with five assists and three steals while Josh Dilling and LJ Wells had 16 points apiece, Wells pulling down nine rebounds in 25 minutes of action off the bench. Sam Vinson added nine points with six assists and three rebounds.
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The offensive attack was led by some efficient shooting, hitting 51% from the field, 43% from three and 84% from the free throw line. The Norse (17-15) forced 17 turnovers and scored 26 points off them compared to just committing nine turnovers and the Titans (8-24) getting eight points off them.
The victory guaranteed a winning record for NKU for the ninth straight season. They will now head to Cleveland State on Thursday in a quarterfinal matchup. The winner then heads to Indianapolis for the semifinals on Monday at the Corteva Coliseum. The Vikings are the No. 2 seed in the tournament, the Norse the No. 7 seed. Thursday’s game tips at 8 p.m. The two split their regular season meetings.
Thomas More 99, Lake Erie 92
The Saints (18-10) put up their second most points of the season in their conference tournament opener in Crestview Hills.
Casey George put up 33 points, Mitchell Rylee with 31 in the winning effort. Kai Simpson tossed in 14 with Ryan Parish adding 10.
The Saints punished Lake Erie (19-10) in the rebounding department, winning the battle of the boards 40-22. Wyatt Vieth led the way there with 11 rebounds, Rylee with nine. Thomas More shot a sweltering 59% from the field and 42% from three.
With Cedarville upsetting No. 1 seed Findlay, the door has certainly opened up for the Saints. Cedarville is the No. 9 seed in the tournament, the Saints the No. 4. The No. 2 seed Kentucky Wesleyan is also out, losing to No. 7 seed Malone.
Friday’s semifinals are the Saints and Cedarville at 5 p.m. at Hillsdale, then the host No. 3 seed Hillsdale will take on Malone at 7:30 p.m. The championship game is Saturday. The Saints split with Cedarville in the regular season.
The Saints are ineligible for the Division II NCAA Tournament, in the second year of their two-year provisionary period. Following the mandatory transition period, the University would then become eligible for NCAA Championships during the 2025-26 year.
