Friday, December 07, 2001
NKU's comeback falls short
Ky. Wesleyan hangs on for 64-62 triumph
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Too bad Northern Kentucky University's game with defending NCAA Division II champion Kentucky Wesleyan couldn't have finished three minutes and 31 seconds early.
It didn't, and the top-ranked Panthers hung on for a 64-62 win Thursday at Regents Hall behind sophomore guard Bobby Zuerner's 17 points and senior center Tyrus Boswell's 16.
“It wasn't one of our better performances,” Wesleyan coach Ray Harper said.
NKU, ranked 17th in the nation, got 19 points from senior guard and McNicholas grad Craig Sanders. But the Norse also lost a chance at the win late in the game when junior guard Brenden Stowers (Simon Kenton) was called for carrying with 15 seconds left.
“We've got to learn to finish,” Stowers said. “We didn't really seem intimidated.”
But NKU coach Ken Shields saw no consolation in a close loss, especially since the Norse were 24-of-59 from the field for the game and just 9-of-27 in the first half.
“We didn't shoot the ball well,” Shields said. “We had our opportunities. We weren't able to keep Boswell in control.”
Playing Wesleyan is sometimes like playing a Division I team — four of the Panthers transferred to the Owensboro, Ky. school from bigger programs. And four starters average double figures.
In Thursday's the first half, Wesleyan produced from inside and outside.
Boswell, a Mississippi State transfer, scored four points from inside 10 feet, and former ballboy Beau Green and Ronald Evans each hit a 3-pointer to make it a 10-4 Panther lead.
Early, NKU matched Wesleyan in size early — 6-foot-9 Carl Mitchell scored four quick points early and finished with 13 —and outside shooting thanks, to Mike Kelsey's 3-pointer and a Sanders bucket. The result: Northern trailed by just 10-9 with 13:46 to go in the half.
The Norse also had trouble rebounding. Wesleyan also outrebounded NKU, won for the game, 44-31, and as the Norse grabbed just six offensive boards.
It was a much different story the second half.
Boswell's field goal with 17:00 left put Wesleyan up, 37-27, but six minutes later the Panthers went more than four minutes without a field goal.
And NKU slowly took advantage: Bobby St-Preux's basket made it 45-44 with 8:26 left; Mitchell's two baskets and Sanders' 3-pointer tied the score at 47-47 with 5:30 to go; and Stowers' six points in 16 seconds put the Norse ahead 53-52 with 3:29 remaining.
After an 8-3 Wesleyan run made it 60-56 Panthers with 1:05 left, NKU had one last chance.
Stowers' layup with 19 seconds left reduced the Norse's deficit to 61-60. Wesleyan's Beau Green missed the back end of a 1-and-1 bonus three seconds later and Mitchell grabbed the rebound, but Stowers committed his turnover. Zuerner's two free throws rendered meaningless Sanders' bucket with a second left.
KY. WESLEYAN (6-0, 4-0) — R. Evans 4-11 0-0 9, Sanders 3-8 1-2 7, Boswell 8-11 0-0 16, Landry 3-13 2-4 9, Floyd 0-3 0-0 0, Green 2-6 1-2 6, Rogers 0-0 0-0 0, Ferguson 0-1 0-0 0, Zuerner 5-10 2-2 17. Totals: 25-63 6-10 64.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY (5-2, 2-2) — St-Preux 2-10 0-0 5, Mitchell 6-10 0-0 13, Rupe 1-4 2-4 4, B. Stowers 4-7 5-6 14, Sanders 8-16, 0-0 19, J. Stowers 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsey 1-5 0-0 3, Fields 2-6 0-0 4, Rowland 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-59 7-10 62.
Halftime: Kentucky Wesleyan led, 31-23. Three-point goals: KW 8-of 24 (R. Evans 1-4, Landry 1-5, Green 1-5, Floyd 0-1, Ferguson 0-1, Zuerner 5-8); NKU 7-of-21 (St-Preux 1-4, Mitchell 1-3, B. Stowers 1-3, Sanders 3-6, Kelsey 1-4, Fields 0-1). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: KW 44 (R. Evans 10); NKU 31 (Mitchell 8). Assists: KW 14 (R. Evans 9); NKU 8 (B. Stowers 4). Turnovers: KW 14 (Landry 5); NKU 12 (Mitchell 3). Blocks: KW 3 (Boswell 2); NKU 11 (Mitchell 5). Steals: KW 7 (Landry 3), NKU 6 (Mitchell 2, Rupe 2). Total Fouls: KW 13, NKU 13.
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