The Associated Press

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. - Brenden Stowers scored 15 points and had five steals Wednesday night as Northern Kentucky University defeated Thomas More College 79-58 at the Connor Convocation Center.

Bobby St-Preux added 14 points and five rebounds as NKU improved to 3-0. The Norse made 54.7 percent of their field goal attempts and led by as many as 30 points in the second half before coasting to the victory.

Quentin Smith came off the bench and scored 13 points for NKU, while Jesse Rupe finished with 12 points. NKU limited Thomas More (1-2) to 37.3 percent shooting from the field.

NKU upped its lead in the series with Thomas More to 26-5.

NKU will begin Great Lakes Valley Conference action at 3:15 p.m. Saturday when Quincy University visits Regents Hall.

Eastern Kentucky 87, Mount St. Joseph 68

RICHMOND, Ky. - Matt Witt scored 19 points to lead Eastern Kentucky (2-0) over NCAA Division III Mount St. Joseph.

Witt scored 12 points in the second half and connected on his first eight shots from the field to finish 8-for-11 from the field for Eastern (2-0).

Tom Luther and Chris Washington scored 17 apiece to lead Mount St. Joseph (3-1). Luther also had 11 rebounds.

Jon Bentley added 16 points for Eastern. Bentley scored 12 points in the first half, including eight in the final 10 minutes as part of a 28-11 run that turned an 18-17 lead into a 46-28 advantage.

Michael Haney had 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Ben Rushing and Charles Slaughter scored 10 points each.

The Colonels shot 51 percent from the field and led by as many as 28 points in the second half.

Joe Stephens scored 14 and E.J. Engelkamp added 10 for the Lions, who shot just 39 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers.