HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Steve Purdon scored 20 points Saturday night as Northern Kentucky University posted a 100-87 win over Bellarmine University in Regents Hall.
Kevin Reinhardt scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half as NKU built a 55-37 lead at the break. Purdon, who made six three-point shots, added 11 points before halftime for the Norse.
NKU shot 53.7 percent from the field in the first half, and the Norse used 7-for-13 shooting from three-point range before the break to build the 18-point lead before a sellout crowd of 1,685 on hand for the 2004 Homecoming.
Mike Kelsey finished with 16 points and seven assists as NKU defeated Bellarmine for the 18th consecutive time. The Norse also made 11-of-24 attempts from three-point range.
Bellarmine’s last victory against NKU came on Feb. 3, 1994, when the Knights escaped with a 73-72 win in Regents Hall.
Jesse Rupe added 14 points and six rebounds for NKU, which improved to 14-8 overall, 7-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Kevin Schappell came off the bench and finished with 13 points for the Norse, who are ranked No. 6 in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll.
Victor Pierson led Bellarmine (7-13 overall, 4-9 GLVC) with 24 points, and Bruce Johnson added 21 points.
It marked the first time since a 100-99 win at Saint Joseph’s College on Jan. 4, 2003, that NKU had scored 100 points.
NKU will hit the road for a two-game road trip next week, beginning with an 8:30 p.m. game at the University of Southern Indiana this Thursday in Evansville, Ind.
The Norse will also visit the University of Missouri-St. Louis next Saturday for a 4:15 p.m. game.
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Steve Purdon |