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Feb. 21, 2002 |
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NKU DEFEATS UM-ST. LOUIS, 88-75 |
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Kelsey scores 24 points as Norse improve to 18-7 |
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Mike Kelsey scored a career-high 24 points Thursday night as the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team defeated the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 88-75, in Regents Hall. Kelsey made 9 of 10 shots from the field as the Norse improved to 18-7 overall, 14-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. He scored 15 points in the first half as NKU built a 50-33 lead. The Norse built a 21-point lead early in the second half, but Missouri-St. Louis rallied and cut the deficit to 63-58 at the 11:44 mark on a layup by Derrick Redd. Jesse Rupe’s tip-in basket stopped the Missouri-St. Louis run and gave the Norse a 65-58 advantage, and NKU held off the Rivermen down the stretch for the win. Craig Sanders added 21 points and extended his school-record streak of consecutive games in double figures to 45. Sanders now has 1,954 career points and needs 27 points to become NKU’s all-time scoring leader. Brady Jackson is currently No. 1 in Norse history with 1,980 points. NKU is tied with the University of Southern Indiana and Lewis University for second place in the league standings going into the final day of the regular season. NKU will close out its home schedule at 3:15 p.m. Saturday as Quincy University visits Regents Hall. Pairings and times for the GLVC Tournament will be announced Sunday night. The GLVC Tournament will be held at Evansville, Ind., in Roberts Stadium for the fourth straight year. The first round of the men’s GLVC Tournament will be played on Thursday, Feb. 28. NKU will be either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed and play at either noon or 2:30 p.m. (central time) next Thursday in the first round. |