Xavier Defeats Northern Kentucky in Exhibition 73-62

Kenny Frease notched a double-double over the NCAA Division II Norse, which had one 6'-8" player on the roster.

Frease scored 17 points and pulled in 10 rebounds for the Musketeers.

"I've been working on scoring down in the post," Frease said.

Mark Lyons scored 13 points and Jamel McLean scored 12 before leaving the game with 19:17 left in the second half.  McLean was felled by a shooters elbow in the first minute of the second stanza.  He was on the court for about two minutes before leaving under his own power but was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for evaluation.

"When Jamel went out, I had to step it up," Frease said.

"Kenny did a great job.  That's what we're going to need from him.  He got six offensive rebounds.  For him to do that shows me that he's getting is moving around people.  It doesn't matter who its against.  It shows he is in better shape," Xavier coach Chris Mack said.

The Musketeers have already lost three-point specialist, Brad Redford, for the season with a knee injury.

Northern Kentucky, which fell to Louisville Sunday 83-66.

The Norse trailed by a 33-30 margin at halftime.  They hit 12 of 33 three-point attempts.

"They have a lot of guys that shoot the three,"  Lyons said.  "They make a lot of handoffs off the dribble, that is something different for us."

"We generally we don't see five perimeter players, that rarely throw the ball into the post," Mack said.  "NKU is a very good shooting team."

Dennis Gagel scored 15 for Northern Kentucky, all coming from behind the arc.  Josh Tabb scored 12 for NKU.  Jon Van Hoose added 12 points for the Norse.