NKU's DeAndre Nealy rejects a Glenville State shot in the second half.
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Everyone knew
DeAndre Nealy could block shots and rebound when he transferred to Northern Kentucky University, but the 6-foot-6 senior center is also showing he is an effective inside scorer.
Nealy scored 19 points and blocked three shots to earn most outstanding player honors as NKU posted an 83-60 win over Glenville State in the 30th annual John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic on Saturday night. The Kent State transfer was 8-for-10 from the field and also grabbed six rebounds for NKU, which improved to 3-0.
“Here's a guy doing what he does off the bench as a senior,” NKU head coach
Dave Bezold said. “He has one thing in mind, and that is the team. DeAndre wants to win, and he's doing a great job inside.”
The Norse shot 55.4 percent from the field and finished with a 44-28 advantage in rebounds. Nealy averaged 17.5 points per game in the two-day event as NKU posted a pair of victories.
“It really doesn't matter as long as I'm on the floor, I'm happy,” Nealy said of coming off the bench. “I came here to dominate the low block. We're doing the job and getting the wins, and that's all that matters.”
Tony Rack scored 16 points and added six rebounds for the Norse. The Moeller High School product also earned the John L. Griffin Hustle Award for his efforts in the two-day event.
“That's a team award. For me to get six rebounds is because everybody else is boxing out and I just happen to be in the right spot,” Rack said.
Paul Byrd's 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer capped a 26-10 first-half run and gave NKU a 36-25 lead at the break. The Norse then scored the first 11 points of the second half to extend that advantage to 47-25 on Nealy's conventional three-point play.
NKU led by as many as 27 points in the second half and cruised to its eighth consecutive victory in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic. The Norse are 15-1 all-time under Bezold in the annual event.
Chad Jackson tossed in 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists for NKU, while teammate
Jon Van Hoose added 12 points, four rebounds and four assists. Byrd scored five points and dished out six assists.
Kevin Gray scored 20 points to lead Glenville State, which dropped to 1-2. The Pioneers made just 32.1 percent of their shots from the field.
NKU plays a non-conference road game at Urbana on Monday night at 7 p.m.
