HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Mike Kelsey scored 24 points and made a key basket late in the game Saturday as Northern Kentucky University upset top-ranked University of Southern Indiana, 81-80, in Regents Hall.
Southern Indiana, ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, had a chance to send the game into overtime with 2.6 seconds remaining after John Oden drew a foul attempting a layup. Oden hit the first free throw to make it 81-80, but after an NKU timeout he missed the second attempt.
NKU’s Jared Ronai missed two free throws - the second intentionally - with 1.7 seconds left and Southern Indiana rebounded. Avery Queen’s halfcourt attempt, however, was off target and NKU celebrated its victory over the nation’s top-ranked team.
NKU (11-6 overall, 4-3 Great Lakes Valley Conference) rallied from a 77-73 deficit with 4:43 remaining in the game to take a 78-77 lead when Sean Rowland hit a short jumper with 1:54 left. Kelsey gave the Norse an 80-77 advantage with 1:12 remaining with a driving layup.
After Oden’s basket cut the deficit to 80-79 with 32 seconds left, NKU was called for a five-second violation and Southern Indiana regained possession underneath its own basket. Joe Gordon missed a leaning jumper, though, and Rowland was fouled with 21 seconds left.
Rowland converted one free throw to give NKU an 81-79 lead. Southern Indiana worked the ball inside to Oden, who was fouled with 2.6 seconds left on the clock.
Oden, who led Southern Indiana (12-3 overall, 5-3 GLVC) with 31 points, made just one of two free throws. Southern Indiana has now lost three of its last four games.
This marked the second time in the past 10 years that NKU has beaten Southern Indiana when the Screaming Eagles were ranked No. 1 in the nation. The Norse also knocked off top-ranked Southern Indiana during the 1994-95 season at Evansville, Ind., by a 96-90 score.
Jesse Rupe finished with 14 points for NKU, and Steve Purdon added 11 points. The Norse shot 56.4 percent from the field and hit eight three-pointers.
Kelsey now has 972 career points and is 25th on the Norse’s all-time scoring list. He has scored in double figures in 16 of NKU’s 17 games this season.
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Sean Rowland |