Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Chris Knight and David Palmer combined for 38 points and 20 rebounds as Northern Kentucky University posted a 72-54 win over Missouri S&T on Saturday.

Knight finished with an NKU career-high 21 points and six rebounds, while Palmer added 17 points and 14 rebounds. Knight, a graduate of Withrow High School and a transfer from Bowling Green, was 10-for-14 from the field.

Tony Rack came off the bench and made a trio of 3-pointers for NKU, which improved to 13-10 overall, 6-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Norse won the rebounding battle by a 41-21 margin and remained unbeaten (5-0) all-time against Missouri S&T.

NKU jumped out to a 12-0 lead and coasted to the win. Knight scored the Norse's first six points with a pair of inside baskets sandwiched around a dunk off an assist from Scott Bibbins.

While Knight and Palmer did the work on the inside, Rack burned the Miners from long range in the first half. He buried back-to-back 3-pointers to give NKU a 21-11 lead with 11:52 left and later added another trey for his nine points.

Byron Bundy scored 20 points to lead Missouri S&T, which dropped to 7-15 overall, 3-11 in the GLVC.

NKU shot 48 percent from the field and was 19-for-26 from the free-throw line. Dennis Gagai dished out five assists for the Norse, while Bibbins finished with three assists.

Palmer now has seven double-doubles this season. He leads NKU in scoring at 17.0 points per game.

NKU plays a key GLVC East Division game at Bellarmine at 8 p.m. Thursday. Two weeks ago, Bellarmine knocked off NKU by a 74-69 score.

The Norse continue their road trip Saturday by meeting Kentucky Wesleyan at Owensboro, Ky. NKU has beaten Kentucky Wesleyan 12 consecutive times during the past six years.