Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

ALLENDALE, Mich. – Justin Ringler scored six points in the final minute of the game to lead Grand Valley State to a 57-54 win against Northern Kentucky University in the season opener for both teams Sunday.

Ringler, who finished with 24 points, gave Grand Valley State a 51-49 lead with 59 seconds remaining by converting a driving layup. He later added four free throws in the final 12 seconds to seal the win for the Lakers, who are ranked 13th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll.

After Toreau Brown drained two free throws with 20 seconds left to extend Grand Valley State's advantage to 53-49, Scott Bibbins countered by making a basket while being fouled with 14 seconds left. Bibbins converted the free throw to cut Grand Valley State's lead to 53-52.

Ringler made a pair of free throws with 12 seconds remaining to extend the Laker lead to 55-52, but Dustin Maguire responded by sinking a jumper from the top of the key to bring NKU within a point at 55-54. Ringler was fouled with 2.4 seconds remaining, and he again converted both free throws to make it 57-54.

NKU had a final desperation attempt, but Yan Moukoury's heave was partially blocked as time expired.

Chris Knight scored 15 points to lead NKU, while teammate David Palmer added 12 points and nine rebounds. Palmer's basket with 9:35 remaining gave NKU a 43-38 lead, but Grand Valley State used a 9-4 spurt to tie the game at 47-all when Brown made one of two free throws with 3:18 left.

Knight's basket with 2:53 left gave NKU a 49-47 lead, setting the stage for Ringler's late-game heroics.

NKU, which had won 27 consecutive season openers, shot 42 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle by a 32-29 margin. The Norse held Grand Valley State without a 3-point field goal (0-for-10), but the Lakers were 17-for-24 at the free-throw line.

Bibbins and Moukoury each scored seven points for NKU. Brown finished with 18 points and nine rebounds for Grand Valley State.

Grand Valley State is now 4-2 all-time against NKU. The Lakers are preseason favorites to win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division.

NKU plays its home opener Friday night by meeting Lake Erie in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic. On Saturday night, NKU meets 14th-ranked Tusculum in the final game of the two-day event in The Bank of Kentucky Center.