Mike Kelsey

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Anthony Jones made three free throws in the final eight seconds of the game Thursday night as seventh-ranked Southern Illinois at Edwardsville held off Northern Kentucky University, 69-66, at the Vadalabene Center.

Jones, who finished with 11 points off the bench, converted two free throws with eight seconds left to give SIUE a 68-63 lead. Steve Purdon, however, responded by draining a long three-point shot to bring NKU within 68-66 with 2.6 seconds remaining.

Jones was fouled on the ensuing inbound play with 1.6 seconds left, and he made the second of two free throws to extend SIUE’s lead to 69-66. SIUE’s Joel Jaye deflected Courtney Fergerson’s inbound pass and Tim Bauersachs grabbed the loose ball as time expired.

Dan Heimos and J.B. Jones each scored 16 points to lead SIUE (17-3 overall, 10-1 Great Lakes Valley Conference). Bauersachs added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Cougars, who remained unbeaten (12-0) at home this season.

Heimos also blocked three shots and grabbed 12 rebounds. He also followed up a miss by J.B. Jones with a tip-in basket to give SIUE a 65-60 lead with 42 seconds remaining in the game.

“We’re keeping it close on the road against some very good teams, but SIUE made some very big plays at the end,” NKU head coach Dave Bezold said. “Heimos got that follow-up basket, and Bauersachs is a worker in there who makes plays.”

Mike Kelsey led NKU (9-9 overall, 5-7 GLVC) with 15 points. Derek Smith scored 14 off the bench for the Norse, who trailed by 10 points early in the second half before staging a late rally.

Purdon and Pat Cary each scored 12 points for the Norse, who shot 42.2 percent from the field. NKU was 5-for-21 from three-point range and lost the rebounding battle to the taller Cougars by a 42-32 margin.

“We had some good shots, and we just didn’t make them,” Bezold said. “SIUE is a very good team, but Bauersachs makes them so good with the way he gets after you and works.”

NKU will play a road game at Quincy at 4:15 p.m. Saturday. The Hawks are 11-7 overall, 7-5 in the GLVC.

Quincy rallied for a 68-62 win over Bellarmine on Thursday.