Mike Kelsey splits the defense for a basket

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Too many turnovers proved costly for Northern Kentucky University against Saint Joseph’s on Thursday night.

The speedy Pumas finished with a 24-6 edge in points off turnovers and coasted to a 75-62 win over NKU in Regents Hall. The Norse committed 20 turnovers - 12 before halftime - and were unable to overcome a 22-point deficit in the second half.

“Those (turnovers) were the result of our mental state coming out of the locker room today, when we just weren’t sharp and that leads to turnovers,” NKU head coach Dave Bezold said. “We weren’t willing to work hard enough to get through it, not willing to work hard enough offensively to make sure that didn’t happen. They outworked us.

“We felt like we had some momentum going into this game, and we just laid an egg.”

Sullivan Sykes and Derek Fey combined for 33 points to lead Saint Joseph’s, which improved to 10-6 overall, 6-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Sykes finished with 17 points for the Pumas, while Fey added 16 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.

Fey’s double-double performance impressed Bezold.

“I wish he was on our team,” Bezold said of Fey. “That’s what is so disappointing, for someone to outwork you, and that is what he did. He’s a hard-working kid. Hopefully some of that rubbed off on some of our guys tonight.”

Courtney Fergerson scored 11 points

Devin Thomas scored 13 points off the bench for Saint Joseph’s, which avenged an early-season 90-77 loss to NKU. The Pumas built an 11-point halftime lead, extended that to 22 points (46-24) early in the second half and held on to post their first win in Regents Hall since a 101-82 victory over the Norse on Feb. 8, 2001.

NKU cut the Saint Joseph’s lead to 60-49 on a three-pointer by Derek Smith with 6:19 left in the game, but Sykes countered with a conventional three-point play to give the Pumas a 63-49 advantage. Saint Joseph’s then used a 10-2 run to build a 73-51 lead and was never threatened.

Sykes, who averages more than 18 points per game, netted 13 of his 17 points in the second half. He also added four assists and five rebounds.

Mike Kelsey led NKU (8-8, 4-6 GLVC) with 18 points and moved into 12th place on the Norse’s all-time scoring list with 1,345 career points. Courtney Fergerson added 11 points for the Norse, who were outrebounded by a 46-35 margin.

“It was a lack of intensity on our part tonight,” Kelsey said. “Last time we played them we had come off a loss to (Indianapolis), and we came into that game ready. We were ahead and we knocked down shots, and tonight we were just flat. Every game we just have to come out with intensity and be ready to compete.”

Smith finished with 10 points for NKU, which will play host to Wisconsin-Parkside at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. Kelsey said NKU needs to get ready in a hurry.

“We’ve got to forget about this. There’s no sense in remembering this game,” Kelsey said. “We have to forget about this game and learn from our mistakes on how we came out so flat and the lack of intensity. We just need to come ready to practice tomorrow and be ready Saturday.”