Mark Hawkins

KENOSHA, Wis. - Tyrone Deacon scored 14 points and
grabbed nine rebounds as Wisconsin-Parkside posted a 70-63 win over Northern Kentucky University on Thursday night.

Kyle Clark and Brad Ferstenou each had 13 points for Wisconsin-Parkside (8-17 overall, 5-13 Great Lakes Valley Conference), which held off a late NKU rally to snap a six-game losing streak.

In the first half, NKU cut the Ranger lead to four, 24-20, with a basket by Pat Cary. Wisconsin-Parkside responded with an 18-4 run to take a 42-24 lead. The Rangers led by a 46-27 halftime margin by shooting 60.7 percent from the field.

“If we would have had energy in the first half, we could have gone in the locker room down six or down four and then we win this game,” said NKU head coach Dave Bezold.

NKU rallied and pulled within 61-59 with 3:35 left in the game when Derek Smith made one of two free throws. Ferstenou, however, hit a 3-pointer to extend Wisconsin-Parkside’s lead to 64-59 and the Rangers held on despite missing seven consecutive free throws down the stretch.

Mike Kelsey and Courtney Fergerson each scored 11 points to lead NKU, which dropped to 10-13 overall, 6-11 in the GLVC. Pat Cary added 10 points for the Norse.

Kelsey now has 1,484 career points and needs only 12 points to pass Paul Cluxton for ninth place in Norse history.

Mark Hawkins came off the bench to score eight points for NKU, which lost the rebounding battle by a 37-29 margin. The Norse also managed only 16.7 percent shooting behind the three-point line.

“Mark Hawkins and Travis Rasso have gotten better every day because they come to practice and work,” said Bezold.

The Norse will conclude the GLVC road trip with a 4 p.m. contest at Lewis on Saturday. The Norse need just one win in their last three games to clinch a spot in the GLVC Tournament.