David Palmer scored 19 points to lead Northern Kentucky University to a 96-73 win over Lake Erie in the first round of the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic Friday night.
Dustin Maquire and Dennis Gagai each added 14 points, and Scott Bibbins dished out a career-high 12 assists.
NKU shot 58 percent from the field and led by as many as 27 points in the second half. They remained perfect(14-0) in the Bank of Kentucky Center.
NKU will face Christian Brothers in the championship game of the tournament Saturday at 7:45 p.m. Christian Brothers upset Tusculum 47-43 in the other first-round game Friday.
