By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter
Exhibition games don’t count, but they create plenty of questions — and answer a few as well — for college basketball fans. That’s why Northern Kentucky’s 71-45 victory over Transylvania on Wednesday night intrigued the crowd of 2,593 inside BB&T Arena.
Among the questions going in:
•Who will be the go-to guy, having lost Horizon League Player of the Year Drew McDonald, the program’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder?
•What kind of style will first-year head coach Darrin Horn employ?
•Who will start in the post?
Jalen Tate provided an answer to the first question, scoring 22 points and grabbing five rebounds in 25 minutes of action. The 6-foot-6 junior poured in 16 points during the first half for NKU, which used a 24-4 run to turn a 17-12 lead into a 41-16 cushion.
NKU’s Jalen Tate goes to the basket against Transylvania defender Spencer Hemmerich (31) during the first half. Tate scored 22 points and grabbed five rebounds as NKU posted a 71-45 victory. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)
“You’re just taking what the game gives you. I don’t feel as though I was looking to score by any means,” Tate said of his first-half scoring outburst. “The floor was open, and I had some good opportunities to get to the line early.”
NKU owned a 20-4 advantage in points off turnovers during the first half. The Pioneers committed 14 first-half turnovers and struggled to find an offensive rhythm against the taller, more athletic Norse.
NKU led by as many as 28 points in the second half and won easily despite shooting 41.7 percent from the field — including 10-for-34 from 3-point range. Horn, making his debut on the BB&T sideline Wednesday night, has said previously that he wants a fast-paced offensive attack.
Against Transylvania, did NKU play at the tempo he would like?
“No, we didn’t, and part of that is because our defense wasn’t consistent enough for us to get out in transition,” Horn said. “They (Transylvania) were a team that sagged a lot, so we wanted to work on in an exhibition game some execution and get some movement. At the same time, we didn’t shoot the ball very well. We’re capable of shooting the ball much better.”
Said Tate of the new system: “There are some differences [from last season], but there are also some similarities. We like to get guys to play in space the same way. There’s a little more openness to the offense as far as just players making plays.”
NKU’s Trevon Faulkner (left) and Dantez Walton crash the boards during the first half. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)
Walton, a versatile 6-foot-6 senior forward who played his first three years at NKU under head coach John Brannen, could be poised for a breakout season in the new offense.
“Last year it was more of a system-based [offense], and this year it’s not really a system, we have principles,” Walton said. “That’s the big difference. We go out there and have a lot more freedom to play.”
Silas Adheke started in the post for NKU and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, four of those on the offensive glass. Adrian Nelson also saw action inside, adding five points and four rebounds. Bryant Mocaby chipped in five points and four rebounds for the Norse.
Conner High School graduate Spencer Hemmerich scored eight points to lead Transylvania, which competes at the NCAA Division III level. The Pioneers made just 35.7 percent of their shots from the field and committed 22 turnovers.
NKU and Transylvania had not played since Nov. 20, 1993, when the Pioneers — then an NAIA program — pulled out a 99-91 win over the Norse in Regents Hall.
NKU begins the regular season Tuesday night when UC-Clermont visits BB&T Arena at 7 p.m.
Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport
NKU owns the glass on this possession in the first half, as four Norse are in position to get the rebound. NKU defeated Transylvania in the exhibition game, 71-45. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)
