Mike Kelsey

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Mike Kelsey poured in 35 points as Northern Kentucky University upset second-seeded Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 73-62, in the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament on Saturday.

Kelsey, a senior guard and a graduate of Elder High School, made seven three-pointers and was 10-for-15 from the field as sixth-seeded NKU (14-14) advanced to the GLVC championship game for the second time in three seasons. Kelsey scored 25 points in the second half as the Norse built a 19-point lead and avenged two regular-season losses to SIUE (23-8).

Kelsey’s 35-point performance tied the tournament record, which was set two days earlier by Sullivan Sykes of Saint Joseph’s.

“(Kelsey) has a very quick release and extreme confidence. He’s one of those players who knows when he’s on and when’s he’s not,” NKU head coach Dave Bezold. “He’ll let the game come to him, and that is what is so special about him.”

Kelsey drained three consecutive three-pointers midway through the second half to give NKU a 60-41 lead with 6:58 remaining in the game. SIUE pulled within 62-53 with 3:17 left, but NKU made 11 free throws in the last three minutes to seal the victory and become the lowest seed to ever advance to the GLVC championship game.

“It’s been up and down. We’ve had a lot of inconsistencies this year,” Kelsey said. “This is a team with a lot of seniors. The next game we lose we’re out. The seniors stepped up and the underclassmen stepped up. It’s definitely not the team that people saw earlier in the year.”

Kevin Reinhardt finished with 16 points and five rebounds for NKU, which opened the tournament Thursday by upsetting third-seeded Indianapolis. The Norse were 11-for-21 from 3-point range and shot 50 percent from the field.

Jordan Stowers added eight points and five assists for NKU. Stowers drained a pair of key three-point shots in the first half as NKU led the entire game.

Tim Bauersachs led SIUE with 20 points and nine rebounds. The Cougars shot just 21.4 percent from the field in the first half and finished at 31.5 percent.

NKU will meet top-seeded Southern Indiana at 2 p.m. Sunday in the GLVC championship game. Southern Indiana knocked off Saint Joseph’s in the other semifinal Saturday.

During the regular season, Southern Indiana defeated NKU twice. The Screaming Eagles are 25-4 and ranked No. 4 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll.

The winner of Sunday’s game will receive the GLVC’s automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament, which begins March 12. Pairings for the NCAA Division II Tournament will be announced Sunday night.