HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will hit the road for a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference games this week, starting with a 7:30 p.m. Thursday contest at the University of Indianapolis.
NKU will also play at Saint Joseph’s College at 4 p.m. Saturday. Both games can be heard on the radio on WIOK (107.5 FM) or on the Internet at http://www.nku.edu/~athletics/0405broadcastpage.htm.
The Norse are 4-1 after dropping a 64-60 decision at Bellarmine University on Sunday. NKU is 1-1 in the GLVC.
Bellarmine converted five free throws in the final 24 seconds of the game to rally for the win. In a game that featured 20 lead changes and 11 ties, Marcus Flynn made two free throws to give Bellarmine a 61-60 advantage with 24 seconds remaining. After an NKU timeout, Steve Purdon attempted a three-pointer that hit the back of the rim and was chased down by Matt Miller.
NKU’s Pat Cary was called for an intentional foul with 8.1 seconds remaining, and Miller made one of two free throws to extend Bellarmine's lead to 62-60. Matt Pait then sealed the win for Bellarmine by converting two free throws, and the Knights defeated NKU for the first time since Feb. 3, 1994.
Pait scored a basket with 59 seconds left to give Bellarmine a 59-57 lead, but Derek Smith countered by following his own miss and converting the shot while being fouled. He finished off the conventional three-point play by making the free throw to give NKU a 60-59 lead with 34.5 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing Bellarmine possession, Harrison Morton was called for a hand-checking foul with 24 seconds left. Flynn hit two free throws to give the Knights a 61-60 lead, and Bellarmine added three more charity tosses in the closing seconds to wrap up the victory.
BELLARMINE STREAK ENDS: Going into last Sunday, NKU had defeated Bellarmine 19 consecutive times.
SMITH HAS CAREER PERFORMANCE: NKU junior forward Derek Smith scored a career-high 20 points and added five rebounds in the loss at Bellarmine last Sunday. For the season, Smith averages 11.2 points per game and 5.0 rebounds.
KELSEY NEARS 1,200 POINTS: NKU senior guard Mike Kelsey enters Thursday with 1,184 career points, which ranks 19th in school history. Kelsey needs 25 points to pass Mike Hofmeyer (1,208 points) for 18th place on the NKU all-time scoring list. Shannon Minor is currently 17th on the list with 1,230 points.
ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS: The Greyhounds are 1-2 overall after suffering a 91-84 loss at Kentucky Wesleyan last Sunday. Indianapolis is 0-2 in the GLVC. The Greyhounds feature senior guard David Logan, who averages 20.7 ppg. Senior forward Lawrence Barnes is scoring 20.0 ppg and has made 59.5 percent of his shots from the field.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: On Feb. 21, 2004, David Logan and Jason Wright combined for 45 points and 14 rebounds as Indianapolis posted a 93-81 win over NKU in Nicoson Hall.
Logan tallied 21 of his 23 points in the first half as Indianapolis built a 42-35 lead. The Greyhounds never trailed in the second half and led by as many as 16 points. Wright scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half.
Jesse Rupe led NKU with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while teammate Steve Purdon added 16 points. Kevin Reinhardt finished with 12 points, and Mike Kelsey and Pat Cary each scored 10 points.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST SAINT JOSEPH’S: On Feb. 19, 2004, Corey Seegers scored 25 of his 27 points in the second half as Saint Joseph’s defeated NKU, 94-82, at Rensselaer, Ind. Saint Joseph’s shot 63.3 percent in the second half to coast to the win. Derek Fey scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Pumas.
The Norse were led by Kevin Reinhardt, who came off the bench to score 23 points and grab 10 rebounds. Steve Purdon added 21 points for NKU.
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Mike Kelsey |