Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

ROLLA, Mo. – Northern Kentucky University's deep bench helped the Norse avoid an upset at Missouri S&T on Friday night.

NKU reserves Ethan Faulkner, Jon Van Hoose and Chris Knight all scored in double figures as No. 24 NKU rallied in the second half for a 71-60 victory over Missouri S&T at Billy Key Court. Faulkner and Van Hoose both finished with 12 points for NKU, which has won nine of its past 10 games and is 17-4 overall.

Knight added 10 points off the bench as the Norse improved to 10-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and remained unbeaten (7-0) all-time against Missouri S&T. NKU used a game-ending 16-5 run during the final six minutes to break away from a 55-all tie and defeat the Miners.

Knight started the run by making one of two free throws, and Faulkner followed with a basket to give NKU a 58-55 advantage. Van Hoose then keyed the spurt by draining a pair of 3-pointers. His trey with 5:01 remaining extended NKU's lead to 61-55, and he later buried another 3-pointer to give the Norse a 64-58 advantage.

Van Hoose made four 3-pointers for his 12 points. The Norse, who trailed by a 37-34 score at halftime, were 10-for-23 from 3-point range.

NKU finished with a 37-15 advantage in bench points. The Norse shot 47.1 percent from the field and owned a 31-26 edge in rebounds.

Tony Rack added nine points for NKU, which is No. 4 in this week's NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll. Malcolm Eleby shook off early foul trouble and finished with eight points, six assists and six rebounds.

Bryce Foster led Missouri S&T (6-14 overall, 2-11 GLVC) with 22 points. The Miners, who have dropped 11 straight games, shot just 37.1 percent from the field.

The Norse play at Drury on Sunday afternoon in another key GLVC road contest in Springfield, Mo. That game will begin at 3:15 p.m. Eastern time.