Proceeds from Sunday will benefit Dustin Maguire (5) and his fight with cancer.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team plays host to UC-Clermont this Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
NKU enters the game with a 6-2 overall record after suffering a 109-91 loss at West Liberty last Saturday. UC-Clermont is currently 5-5. NKU is 7-0 all-time against UC-Clermont, which is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
MAGUIRE BENEFIT: The NKU/UC-Clermont game will also serve as a benefit function for Norse standout guard
Dustin Maguire, who has been battling cancer. Proceeds from the game will be used to assist Maguire in his fight against cancer. Wristbands will be sold and several prizes will be raffled off during the game.
TOUGH AFTERNOON: West Liberty opened the second half with a 29-9 run against NKU last Saturday. West Liberty owned a 51-44 halftime lead and made a trio of 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the second half to build a 70-53 advantage. The Hilltoppers then scored the next 10 points to cap the 29-9 run for an 80-53 lead with 14:19 remaining in the game.
Bobby Shannon and
Tony Rack each finished with 19 points – career-high scoring totals for both players. The Norse were 12-for-25 from 3-point range but committed 25 turnovers against West Liberty's pressure.
Malcolm Eleby and
Josh Tabb each added 14 points for the Norse, who shot 55.9 percent from the field.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST UC-CLERMONT: On Dec. 23, 2009,
David Palmer scored a career-high 39 points as NKU outlasted UC-Clermont in overtime, 91-89, in The Bank of Kentucky Center.
Palmer was 17-for-27 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds. Palmer's 39-point performance tied for the third-highest scoring total in NKU history, and his 17 field goals equaled the school record.
Chris Knight and
Corey Sorrell each added 18 points for NKU. Knight scored six points in the overtime and made two free throws with 8.4 seconds remaining to give the Norse a 91-86 cushion. UC-Clermont's Maurice McGee drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to account for the final margin.
Jose Narvaez led UC-Clermont with 22 points and 18 rebounds. Kraig Unger added 23 points for the Cougars. Travis Donald finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Cougars.
NKU held a 72-65 lead with 6:14 remaining in regulation, but UC-Clermont used an 8-2 spurt to pull within a point (74-73) on a layup by A.J. Frazier with 3:55 left on the clock.
UC-Clermont took a 78-76 lead with 2:07 remaining after Unger scored a basket while being fouled and converted the free throw. Palmer tied the game at 78-all with a basket at the 1:52 mark, and both teams missed chances to win in the closing seconds of regulation.
Scott Bibbins dished out 11 assists for NKU, which shot 50.6 percent from the field. The Norse were just 1-for-13 from 3-point range, but Palmer's inside dominance helped NKU avoid the upset.
Knight and Sorrell each pulled down eight rebounds.
Ethan Faulkner added six points and six rebounds for the Norse.
