Junior forward Carl Mitchell scored 26 points to help Northern Kentucky University remain unbeaten this season with a 105-95 victory over Westminster (Pa.) Friday in the first round of the Porreco Cup Tournament at Erie, Pa.

        Senior center Adam Norwell added 21 points as NKU improved to 11-0, its best start since the 1996-97 season, when the Norse began with 12 consecutive victories.

        Mitchell and Norwell each had seven rebounds for the Norse, matching Westminster's Rick Giordano for the game high.

        Craig Conley had 18 points and a game-high 10 assists for NKU.

        The Norse built a 21-point lead early in the first half Friday. But Westminster (8-4) went on a 26-12 run to cut NKU's lead to seven points, 53-46, at halftime.

        Westminster trailed 77-76 with 10 minutes left in the game, but NKU used a 23-13 run to seal the win. The Norse made 55.9 percent of their shots from the field (38-of-68) and forced Westminster into 19 turnovers.

        NKU junior guard Craig Sanders (McNicholas High) scored eight points, including the 1,000th of his career. Sanders is the 21st player in Norse history to reach the 1,000-point mark.

        Henry Klinar scored 22 points and Chad Phillips had 20 to lead Westminster.

        NKU will play in the tournament's championship game at 8p.m. today against Gannon.

        WESTMINSTER — Klipa 1-2 1-2 3, Hill 3-7 0-0 9, Maszczak 2-4 0-0 4, Giordano 5-6 0-0 10, Wormsley 5-15 4-4 15, Oman 2-4 3-4 9, Podbielski 0-1 0-0 0, Phillips 6-10 6-7 20, Wilson 1-3 0-0 2, Klinar 8-12 5-5 22. Totals: 33-64 19-22 95.

        NKU — Conley 5-10 7-11 18, Lawhon 3-5 2-2 10, Schaefer 0-1 0-0 0, Stowers 2-4 0-0 5, Clark 8-13 0-1 17, Sanders 2-8 2-3 8, Norwell 8-9 5-6 21, Mitchell 10-17 4-4 26, Wieber 0-1 0-2 0. Totals: 38-68 20-31 105.

        Three-point field goals: Westminster 10-22 (Hill 3-4, Maszczak 1-2, Giordano 0-1, Wormsley 1-4, Oman 2-4, Podbielski 0-1, Phillips 2-4, Wilson 0-1, Klinar 1-1). Halftime score: NKU 53, Westminster 46. Records: Westminster (8-4), NKU (11-0).

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