Mike Kelsey has 1,327 career points

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will play host to Saint Joseph’s at 7:45 p.m. Thursday in Regents Hall.

NKU is 8-7 overall after holding off Bellarmine, 85-79, last Thursday night. The Norse are 4-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Thursday will also be Just For Kids Youth Night in Regents Hall, and all grade-school kids wearing an NKU camper T-shirt will be admitted into the game for free.

NKU will close out its homestand Saturday with a 3:15 p.m. game against Wisconsin-Parkside.

KELSEY REMAINS TORRID: Mike Kelsey poured in a game-high 21 points to lead NKU past Bellarmine. It marked the third consecutive game Kelsey scored at least 20 points, and the senior guard moved into 13th place on the NKU all-time scoring list with 1,327 career points.

Kelsey passed both Greg Phelia and Brenden Stowers with his 21-point performance, which included four three-point field goals. He is now just three points away from passing Ryan Schrand (1,329 points) for 12th place on the NKU list.

Kelsey averages 13.1 points per game and he has connected on a team-leading 30 three-point shots this season.

BELLARMINE RECAP: Pat Cary finished with 17 points during NKU’s win over Bellarmine. NKU built an 80-65 lead with 5:23 remaining when Courtney Fergerson drained a three-point shot, but Bellarmine followed with a 14-1 spurt to make it a game.

After Marcus Flynn hit a short jumper to bring Bellarmine within 81-79 with 25 seconds left in the game, Kevin Reinhardt took a pass from Derek Smith and converted a layup to extend NKU’s lead to 83-79. Kelsey sealed the victory for NKU by making a pair of free throws.

Reinhardt finished with 14 points, while Smith had 10 points and 10 rebounds. NKU shot 63.3 percent from the field in the first half and finished at a 49.2 percent clip.

Harrison Morton had nine points and six rebounds, while Fergerson - playing in his first game for NKU - finished with seven points, three rebounds and two assists. Sean Rowland dished out a team-leading six assists for the Norse.

ABOUT SAINT JOSEPH’S: The Pumas are 9-6 overall, 5-4 in the GLVC. Saint Joseph’s features junior forward Sullivan Sykes, who averages 18.7 ppg.

Derek Smith scored 24 points on Dec. 4

THE LAST TIME AGAINST SAINT JOSEPH’S: Earlier this season on Dec. 4 at Rensselaer, Ind., Derek Smith and Pat Cary combined for 44 points and 15 rebounds as NKU held off Saint Joseph’s, 90-77.

Smith scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Cary added 20 points and eight rebounds for the Norse. NKU built a 54-32 halftime lead by shooting 75 percent (21-for-28) from the field. The Norse also shot a blistering 77.8 percent from behind the three-point arc in the first half.

The Norse opened up with their largest lead (62-38) after two free throws by Cary with 16 minutes remaining. Saint Joseph’s rallied behind the play of Sullivan Sykes (21 points) and cut the NKU lead to 73-64 on a layup by Rashad McSwine with five minutes left in the game, but key baskets by Smith and Cary helped the Norse hold on for the road victory.

Kevin Reinhardt finished with 12 points for NKU. Harrison Morton added 10 points for the Norse, who shot 64.2 percent from the field. Jordan Stowers added seven points and five assists for NKU.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE: On Jan. 22, 2004, Sean Rowland made four free throws in the final 27 seconds as NKU defeated Wisconsin-Parkside, 72-67, in Regents Hall.

NKU built a 17-point lead in the second half behind the shooting of Mike Kelsey, who scored a game-high 24 points. Kelsey also became the 23rd member of the NKU 1,000-point club early in the first half when he connected on a three-point shot.

NKU used a 7-2 run to start the second half to build a 44-27 lead. The Norse still owned a 59-46 advantage with 6:36 remaining after Rupe made two free throws. Wisconsin-Parkside, however, used a 13-4 run late in the game to forge a 66-66 tie on a three-pointer by Gareth Malkowski with 1:42 remaining. Kelsey, though, hit a driving layup with 1:18 left to give the Norse a 68-66 lead.

Kevin Boutelle drew a foul and made one of two free throws with 1:01 left to bring the Rangers within 68-67, but Rowland sealed the win for NKU by hitting four straight free throws. Rowland finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists.