Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A balanced offensive attack keyed Northern Kentucky University's 85-47 victory against the College of Mount St. Joseph in the Norse's season opener Saturday afternoon.

Malcolm Eleby and Dennis Gagai both finished with 12 points to lead NKU, which placed 12 players in the scoring column. The Norse shot 57.6 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle by a 41-25 margin to roll past the visiting Lions.

NKU used a 16-2 run in the first half to extend an 18-15 lead into a 34-17 advantage. Eleby ignited the run with a pair of baskets to make it a 22-15 game, but Mount St. Joseph countered with a jumper by Ben Haarman to cut the NKU lead to 22-17 with 5:59 remaining in the half.

The Norse responded by scoring the next 12 points. Gagai buried a 3-pointer off an assist from Eleby to extend NKU's advantage to 25-17. Tony Rack followed by draining a 3-pointer to make it 28-17, and Gagai later finished off a drive to the basket with a layup while being fouled. He converted the free throw to give NKU a 31-17 lead.

After Bobby Shannon made one of two free throws, Eleby capped the run with a driving layup to extend NKU's lead to 34-17. Rack finished the first half by connecting on a pair of 3-pointers, including a trey with 19 seconds left that gave the Norse a 42-19 advantage at the break.

NKU led by as many as 40 points in the second half and coasted to the season-opening victory. The Norse held Mount St. Joseph to 31.5 percent shooting from the field, including 4-for-23 (17.4 percent) from 3-point range. Haarman scored 14 points for the Lions, who compete at the NCAA Division III level.

NKU senior forward Chris Knight came off the bench and finished with 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field. Rack and James Cotton each netted nine points for NKU, while teammate Ethan Faulkner scored eight. Shannon grabbed seven rebounds and added three steals for the Norse.

Eleby dished out four assists and added six rebounds, while Cotton finished with six boards. Josh Tabb and Erik Stenger each scored six points for the Norse, who are now 2-0 all-time against Mount St. Joseph. NKU, in its 40th season of fielding men's basketball, is 32-8 in season openers.

NKU plays host to the 29th annual John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic next weekend, and the Norse will meet Christian Brothers in the first round Friday at 7:45 p.m.

NKU concludes the two-day event Saturday by facing Charleston (W.Va.) at 7:45 p.m. This year's event will be a round-robin classic with predetermined opponents. UC-Clermont is the fourth team and plays Charleston at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The Cougars face Christian Brothers at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.