Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Fri., Nov. 19
John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic
Highland Heights, Ky. – The Bank of Kentucky Center (9,400)
UC-Clermont (2-1) vs. Charleston (W.Va.) (1-0), 5:30 p.m.
Christian Brothers (3-0) at NKU (1-0), 7:45 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WCVX (1050 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
NKU/CBU Series Record: NKU leads, 6-2
Last Meeting: NKU 59, CBU 57 (11-21-09)

Sat., Nov. 20
UC-Clermont vs. Christian Brothers, 5:30 p.m.
Charleston at NKU, 7:45 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WCVX (1050 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
NKU/UC Series Record: NKU leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: NKU 89, UC 76 (11-26-90)


HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University plays host to the 29th annual John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic this weekend, and the Norse (1-0) will meet unbeaten Christian Brothers (3-0) 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 (1-0) at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The Cougars (2-1) face Christian Brothers at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

LAST YEAR'S GRIFFIN CLASSIC: NKU won the championship of last season's John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic with a 59-57 win against Christian Brothers in the title contest. The Norse are 11-1 in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic under head coach Dave Bezold.

NKU's only setback in the event since Bezold became head coach was a 66-53 loss to Findlay in 2007.

OPENING WIN: A balanced offensive attack keyed NKU's 85-47 victory against Mount St. Joseph in the Norse's season opener last Saturday. 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.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST CHRISTIAN BROTHERS: On Nov. 21, 2009, Dustin Maguire's 18-foot jumper at the buzzer gave NKU a 59-57 win over Christian Brothers in the championship game of the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic.

With the score tied at 57-all and the clock winding down, Maguire launched a shot from the top of the circle that hit the rim, bounced around and fell through the net as time expired. Maguire finished with 10 points and was named the most outstanding player of the two-day event for NKU.

David Palmer and Dennis Gagai each scored 11 points for NKU, while Erik Stenger added a career-high 10 points for the Norse. Zack Warner led Christian Brothers with 27 points.

Christian Brothers held a 45-38 lead with 13:28 remaining in the game after a 3-pointer by Warner, but  NKU used a 14-7 run to tie it at 52-all on Palmer's dunk with 4:47 left on the clock.

Maguire buried a 3-pointer with 22.8 seconds left to give NKU a 57-54 lead, but Kyle Couvion drained a 3-poInter with 17 seconds remaining to tie the game at 57-all. NKU called timeout and ran the clock down inside five seconds, and Maguire launched his winning shot from just inside the top of the key.