NKU’s Mark Hawkins

OWENSBORO, Ky. - Billy Finnell converted a driving layup with two seconds left in the game to give Northern Kentucky University a 59-57 win over Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday in the Owensboro Sportscenter.

Kentucky Wesleyan had tied the score at 57-all when Alvin Lewis made the first of two free throws with 10 seconds remaining. After Lewis missed the second attempt, Finnell dribbled the length of the floor, drove between two Panther defenders and made a contested layup with two seconds remaining.

Kentucky Wesleyan attempted a long pass that was intercepted on the ensuing possession, and NKU won for the second straight season in the Owensboro Sportscenter.

Mark Hawkins led NKU (15-9, 10-6 Great Lakes Valley Conference) with 17 points. The sophomore guard also made a trio of 3-point shots in the second half against the zone defense employed by Kentucky Wesleyan.

“My teammates did a great job of getting me open after they (Kentucky Wesleyan) decided to play a zone, and I stepped in and hit the shots,” Hawkins said. “We moved the ball into the middle and did a good job of kicking the ball out, and I was able to make the open shots.”

Finnell finished with nine points as NKU clinched a berth in the upcoming GLVC Tournament. Vincent Humphrey and Gavin Ludgood each added eight points for NKU, which swept the season series with Kentucky Wesleyan for the second straight year.

Norse head coach Dave Bezold is now 4-0 all-time against the Panthers. NKU shot 46.9 percent from the field and held the Panthers to just 2-for-12 shooting from 3-point range.

Dewayne Rogers led Kentucky Wesleyan (6-18 overall, 3-14 GLVC) with 15 points, and Lewis added 13. The Panthers used a 10-0 run late in the game to rally from a 52-45 deficit to gain a 55-52 lead with 4:22 remaining.

Finnell, however, made one of two free throws and later added a basket to tie the game at 55-all. Harrison Morton gave NKU a 57-55 lead with 58 seconds left by scoring after grabbing an offensive rebound.

NKU will complete its suspended Dec. 8 game at Saint Joseph’s at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Rensselaer, Ind. Saint Joseph’s holds a 57-40 lead with 6:30 remaining.

The Norse will play the next evening at Wisconsin-Parkside, and conclude the regular season Saturday at Lewis.

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