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| Feb. 5, 2005 | |||
| KELSEY SCORES 28 TO LEAD NKU PAST KWC, 73-66 | |||
Norse
senior guard makes eight three-point shots as NKU sweeps Panthers |
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| Box Score | Quotes | ||
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Mike Kelsey was at his long-range best Saturday afternoon, and the senior guard’s outside shooting helped Northern Kentucky University pick up a key Great Lakes Valley Conference victory. Kelsey made eight three-pointers en route to a game-high 28 points as NKU posted a 73-66 win over Kentucky Wesleyan in Regents Hall. Kelsey, a graduate of Elder High School in Cincinnati, finished 8-for-16 from behind the three-point arc. He also added three assists as NKU improved to 10-11 overall, 6-9 in the GLVC. Kelsey has averaged more than 22 points per game the past month, so his performance Saturday was no surprise to NKU head coach Dave Bezold. “Actually, since we left Northern Michigan, he has been the best player that we’ve had around here in a while,” Bezold said of Kelsey. “He’s been consistent and he’s playing with confidence. Our guys are making a concerted effort to get him open, and when he is, he’s getting the ball in his hand and knocking the shots down.”Kelsey drained consecutive three-pointers in the second half to cut a seven-point Kentucky Wesleyan lead to 39-38 with 14:14 left in the game. Courtney Fergerson, who scored all 10 of his points in the second half, made a three-point shot with 11:49 remaining to give NKU a 46-44 lead. Kelsey added another three-pointer with 2:50 left in the game to extend NKU’s advantage to 68-62, and the Norse wrapped up their first season sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan since 1988. Kelsey now has 1,462 career points, which ranks 10th in Norse history. “It’s all about rhythm, and when you get into the flow and get your confidence going when you’re shooting and those first couple go in, it’s a lot easier to shoot in the game,” Kelsey said. “Fortunately, these last couple of games I’ve been able to get some good looking shots and put the ball into the basket.”Pat Cary added 12 points for NKU, which finished 12-for-26 from three-point range. Sean Rowland dished out eight assists for the Norse, while Derek Smith came off the bench and scored eight points.
The NKU bench, led by Fergerson and Smith, outscored Kentucky Wesleyan 26-21. Fergerson’s second-half performance, along with the shooting of Kelsey, sparked the Norse rally. “(Courtney)’s coming along real well. He hit some huge shots for us,” Kelsey said. “He hit a big three and a big pull-up. It was a two or three-point game when he hit those shots, so he really gave us a big lift. He also gives us a big lift with his defense.” Franklyn Ferguson led Kentucky Wesleyan (13-8 overall, 8-7 GLVC) with 16 points. The Panthers, who had won their last three games in Regents Hall prior to Saturday, were held to 39.3 percent shooting from the field. NKU will play host to Indianapolis next Saturday at 7:45 p.m. in Regents Hall.
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