LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Brenden Stowers scored 23 points Saturday night as Northern Kentucky University defeated Bellarmine University, 106-85, in Knights Hall.
Stowers, who also had five assists, made 8 of 13 shots from the field as NKU improved to 7-0 overall. Mike Kelsey scored 18 points for the Norse, who shot 59.7 percent from the field and committed just six turnovers.
Chris Seabrooks scored a career-high 17 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Norse, who upped their Great Lakes Valley Conference record to 4-0. Seabrooks connected on 6 of 10 shots from the field and made all five of his free throw attempts.
NKU built a 58-45 halftime lead as Kelsey scored 13 points and made three three-pointers. Stowers - who scored his 900th career point on Saturday - and Seabrooks scored 11 points each in the first half.
After Bellarmine sliced the lead 65-59 early in the second half, NKU used a 23-8 run to build a 85-67 advantage. Adam Howell sparked the Norse run with two three-pointers.
Bobby St-Preux scored 13 points for NKU, while Quentin Smith added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Norse. Howell also scored in double figures with 10 points.
The Norse have now beaten the Knights 16 consecutive times. Bellarmine’s last victory against NKU came on Feb. 3, 1994, when the Knights escaped with a 73-72 win in Regents Hall.
The Norse will take next week off for exams and return to action on Dec. 21 with a 1 p.m. home game against Ohio Northern University. NKU will also play a home contest on Dec. 23, when Wayne (Mich.) State University visits Regents Hall for a 7:45 p.m. contest.
Brenden Stowers