It was one of those days for the Bearcats at 5/3 Arena. A bigger team, a stronger team, a more talented team got the best of them in a 78-65 victory. Minus a run in the game where Jalen Tate helped Northern Kentucky tie the game at 13-13, Cincinnati dominated the rest of the way.
Once the game got close, Cincinnati turned the jets on and showed they were the superior team going on a 14-0 run to make the score 27-13 before Chris Vogt made a free throw to stop the run. Chris also made the Norse ensuing field goal in 6 minutes and thirty three seconds. A game where the Norse really needed big games from star player Drew McDonald and Dantez Walton, the Forward duo combined to shoot 5 for 26 from the field and 16 points. It was the rare off night for McDonald who has always played well in big time games through his career but didn't score until 16:24 in the second half missing his first eight shot attempts of the game.
Really, the percentages are much closer than the score looked. Cincinnati made 46% of their field goals compared to 40% for NKU. Northern Kentucky had some late three point shots make their stats look better at 44% compared to Cincinnati's 30% and Cincinnati had a 10-9 Points off turnover advantage. The difference in this game was Free Throws, Cincinnati went 26/33 from the line compared to Northern Kentucky going 6 for 15 and Rebounding, Cincinnati went into half time with a 28-12 advantage on the boards.
Up next for Northern Kentucky, the Norse continue their road trip with a trip to Eastern Kentucky Saturday at 6:00PM Est. The Bearcats are at 5/3 Arena again Saturday for the annual Crosstown Shootout against the Xavier Musketeers who have one more game before the Rivalry game Saturday Afternoon.
