By Shannon Russell
Enquirer staff writer

UK's Shagari Alleyne attempts to block a shot by NKU's Mike Kelsey during the second half of their exhibition game at Rupp Arena. UK won 91-73 after leading only 41-38 at halftime. The Enquirer/GARY LANDERS

LEXINGTON - The bus ride to Rupp Arena was sober as Division II Northern Kentucky University traveled to Division I powerhouse Kentucky on Wednesday night, and afterward junior forward Derek Smith couldn't help but notice a parallel to the movie Hoosiers.

"It was something to get excited about: A little school playing a big one. I think we battled - it didn't just go the way we wanted," Smith said.

Kentucky, ranked ninth in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Top 25, dominated NKU 91-73 before a crowd of 18,824 in the first exhibition game between the schools. The pairing comes from April NCAA legislation requiring Division I programs to play four-year schools in preseason games.

The Wildcats trailed by as many as eight in the first half but relied on a stingy full-court press, solid defense and a shooting surge to pull away in the second half. Junior swingman Kelenna Azubuike scored a team-high 26 points, and fellow returning starter Chuck Hayes added 15 points and a team-high six rebounds.

"Overall it was a good effort," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. "I didn't particularly think we shot the ball (well) - obviously from the three-point line in the second half and our free-throw shooting."

Kentucky was 14-of-22 from free-throw range and connected on only 3 of 20 treys. But the game was a chance to showcase new players, try new combinations and give the freshman opportunities to meet the home crowd.

Smith ended months of speculation once his starters took the floor. Hayes and Azubuike returned to their posts, with Western Kentucky transfer and point guard Patrick Sparks, guard Ravi Moss and center Randolph Morris, one of UK's three heralded McDonald's All-Americans.

The other two, guards Joe Crawford and Rajon Rondo, subbed frequently and provided bright spots throughout the night. Rondo drew cheers en route to six steals, five assists and 16 points, Morris had three blocks, and Crawford scored eight points.

Fellow freshman Ramel Bradley added six points.

"I was kind of nervous at first, but once I got my first shot and the crowd clapped, I felt pretty good," Bradley said.

NKU coach Dave Bezold also experimented with his roster, playing 13 players in the first half and starting veteran guards Jordan Stowers and Mike Kelsey with freshman forward Harrison Morton, transfer center Tory Reed and Smith.

NKU struggled to compete with Kentucky's height, turning instead to the perimeter.

No one had more of an impact than Kelsey, who led all players with 27 points, including seven threes.

"Honestly, he hasn't been playing that well lately, but I knew he would come out to play tonight," Bezold said. "He is a guy that leads by example. He's a self-made player, a relentless worker, and that's why he is so successful."

NKU surged to an eight point lead - its biggest margin of the game - with 12 minutes to play in the first half. That's also when it stalled. The Wildcats held NKU scoreless for 4:38 and scored 15 unanswered points. Azubuike scored seven straight, icing the rally with a wide-open 3-pointer.

Though Kentucky only led by three points at the half, its advantage was never in question after the break.

"I think we started to get tired and their full-court pressure started killing us," Kelsey said.

The Norse could not surmount 26 turnovers. Defense kept the ball in Kentucky's hands time and again, and with five minutes left NKU was looking at a 21-point deficit.

After lots of buzz about Kentucky's freshmen, Hayes said the team came together in the end - but still has a lot of work to do, too.

"Shooting. And communication on defense. And taking three-point shots. And free throws," he said.

E-mail srussell@enquirer.com

NKU	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Morton	3	9	0	1	2	0	3	7	6
Smith	2	6	1	2	5	0	3	1	5
Reed	4	8	4	4	4	0	2	3	12
Stowers	0	1	0	0	0	4	0	4	0
Kelsey	9	14	2	2	2	0	3	0	27
Lewin	4	5	0	0	2	0	1	1	11
Rowland	0	0	0	0	3	6	1	3	0
Purdon	2	5	0	0	0	1	1	3	5
Schappell	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Rasso	1	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	2
Reinhardt	2	2	1	3	1	2	2	1	5
Wilkinson	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0
Cary	0	2	0	0	3	0	4	0	0
Totals	27	55	8	12	29	13	20	26	73

Team rebounds - 3.

Kentucky	FG	Att	FT	Att	R	A	F	TO	TP
Azubuike	11	14	1	3	5	1	0	0	26
Hayes	6	10	3	7	6	1	2	1	15
Morris	1	4	0	0	5	0	2	1	2
Moss	1	2	0	1	0	1	2	0	2
Sparks	2	7	0	0	1	3	0	1	4
Stockton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bradley	3	6	0	0	3	1	1	0	6
Rondo	4	7	8	9	4	5	1	4	16
Carrier	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Obrzut	3	4	2	2	2	2	1	1	8
Perry	0	2	0	0	1	1	0	1	0
Alleyne	2	2	0	0	2	0	1	0	4
Crawford	4	8	0	0	0	0	4	1	8
Totals	37	68	14	22	36	15	14	10	91

Team rebounds - 6.

Northern Kentucky	38	35	-73
Kentucky	41	50	-91

3-pointers - NKU 11-19 (Smith 0-2, Kelsey 7-10, Lewin 3-4, Purdon 1-3), UK 3-20 (Azubuike 3-4, Hayes 0-1, Sparks 0-4, Bradley 0-2, Rondo 0-1, Carrier 0-2, Perry 0-2, Crawford 0-4). Technicals - NKU (Team). Officials - Mike Stewart, Joe Lindsay, Lorenzo Bronson. Attendance - 18,824.