OWENSBORO, Ky. - Mike Kelsey’s driving layup with 1:05 remaining in the game Thursday night snapped a 72-72 tie and lifted Northern Kentucky University to a 74-73 victory over top-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College in the Owensboro Sportscenter.
After Kelsey’s basket, Damon Garris hit one of two free throws with 41 seconds remaining to bring Kentucky Wesleyan within 74-73. The Panthers had two shots to win in the closing seconds, but Eric Freeman’s six-foot jumper at the buzzer was off-target, and NKU celebrated its first win against the Panthers in the Owensboro Sportscenter since Feb. 11, 1988.
“This is just a great win, and it’s a thrill to finally win down here,” said NKU head coach Ken Shields, who was 0-16 against Kentucky Wesleyan in the Owensboro Sportscenter prior to Thursday. “We made big plays all night, and this is one of the most memorable victories in my career.”
Bobby St-Preux led NKU, which improved to 6-0 overall, 3-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, with 14 points. Quentin Smith added 13 points and Adam Howell scored a career-high 12 points as the Norse ended Kentucky Wesleyan’s 41-game home win streak.
“This was the longest home winning streak in the nation, and it’s a great accomplishment to beat this team in Owensboro,” Shields said. “Very few teams have won in this place over the years, so it’s nice to get this victory over a great Kentucky Wesleyan team.”
NKU - which shot 56.7 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes - twice built 12-point leads in the first half as St-Preux scored 12 points. The Panthers, however, used the scoring of Marlon Parmer (13 points in the first half) and Garris (11 points in the first half) to slice the Norse advantage to 41-36 at intermission.
Kentucky Wesleyan eventually forged a 68-66 lead with 5:11 remaining in the game, but NKU responded with baskets by Smith and Chris Seabrooks to take a 72-70 lead. Garris tied the game by making a pair of free throws with 1:19 left, setting the stage for Kelsey’s driving layup that gave NKU the lead for good.
“Kelsey stepped up and made a gigantic play in the final minute,” Shields said. “Brenden Stowers (nine points, three assists) made some great passes late in the game to get our players easy baskets, and Adam Howell and Quentin Smith were outstanding.”
Garris scored 17 points for Kentucky Wesleyan, which dropped to 2-1 overall, 1-1 in the GLVC. Parmer added 15 points for the Panthers.
NKU will travel to Louisville, Ky., this Saturday at 8 p.m. to meet Bellarmine University in Knights Hall.
Bobby St-Preux