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OWENSBORO, Ky. - Mike Kelsey's layup with 1:05 left snapped a tie and lifted Northern Kentucky to a 74-73 victory over top-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan on Thursday.

After Kelsey's basket, Damon Garris hit one of two free throws with 39 seconds remaining to bring Kentucky Wesleyan within 74-73. The Panthers had two shots in the closing seconds, but they both missed, and the Norse celebrated their first win at 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. "We made big plays all night, and this is one of the most memorable victories in my career."

Bobby St-Preux led the Norse (6-0, 3-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference) with 14 points. Quentin Smith added 13 points and Adam Howell scored a career-high 12 as NKU ended Kentucky Wesleyan's 41-game home winning streak.

The Norse - who shot 56.7 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes - twice built 12-point leads as St-Preux scored 12 points. The Panthers (2-1, 1-1), however, used Marlon Parmer's 13 first-half points and Garris' 11 to slice the Norse's advantage to 41-36 at intermission.

The Panthers 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 on two free throws with 1:19 left, setting the stage for Kelsey.

"Kelsey stepped up and made a gigantic play in the final minute," Shields said.

Kentucky Wesleyan dropped to 2-1 overall, 1-1 in the GLVC.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 74, KENTUCKY WESLEYAN 73

NORTHERN KENTUCKY (74) - St-Preux 5-8 3-4 14, Rupe 4-5 0-0 8, Seabrooks 4-8 1-2 9, J.Stowers 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsey 2-10 2-2 7, Howell 4-7 0-0 12, Smith 5-9 3-6 13, B.Stowers 4-8 0-0 9, Rowland 0-1 0-0 0, Murphy 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 29-57 9-14 74.

KENTUCKY WESLEYAN (73) - Garris 6-10 5-7 17, Freeman 4-9 2-4 10, Dabney 3-5 0-0 6, Parmer 6-15 1-1 15, Dye 2-6 0- 4, Rogers 0-0 1-2 1, Zuerner 3-5 1-1 9, Key 3-6 5-10 11, Enos 0-0 0-0 0, Foster 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-2 0. Totals: 27-56 15-27 73.

Halftime: NKU 41, KW 36. 3-pointers: NKU 7-19 (St-Preux 1-3, Kelsey 1-8, Howell 4-7, B.Stowers 1-1), KW 4-8 (Freeman 0-1, Parmer 2-4, Zuerner 2-3). Rebounds: NKU 30 (Smith 9), KW 36 (Garris 8). Assists: NKU 14 (J.Stowers 5), KW 11 (Parmer 5). Records: NKU 6-0 (3-0 GLVC), KW 2-1 (1-1).

Women: NKU 79, Ky. Wesleyan 62

OWENSBORO, Ky. - Connie Myers scored 20 points as the Norse won their fourth consecutive game.

Bridget Flanagan added 17 points and made four 3-pointers for Northern Kentucky (4-1, 3-0 GLVC), which is ranked eighth in the NCAA Division II national poll.

Myers, who made nine of 10 shots from the field, scored 12 points in the first half as NKU built a 36-23 lead.

Kentucky Wesleyan fell to 1-3, 0-2.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 79, KENTUCKY WESLEYAN 62

NKU (79) - Mobley 3-8 6-7 12, Polosky 1-8 3-4 6, Myers 9-10 2-6 20, Burrows 2-4 3-4 7, Flanagan 6-12 1-2 17, Newton 0-0 0-0 0, Marx 0-0 0-0 0, Sterling 0-1 0-0 0, Snardon 3-6 1-2 7, Phillips 0-0 0-0 0, Brock 3-7 4-5 10. Totals: 27-56 20-30 79.

KENTUCKY WESLEYAN (62) - Warren 5-15 2-3 14, Vaal 3-6 4-4 10, Morton 5-7 4-5 14, Reynolds 0-3 0-0 0, Mills 2-9 2-2 7, Adlich 1-3 2-4 4, Purvis 2-4 0-0 4, Payne 0-2 0-0 0, Peters 3-5 2-4 9, Clarke 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 21-56 16-22 62.

Halftime: NKU 36, KW 23. 3-pointers: NKU 5-15 (Mobley 0-1, Polosky 1-3, Flanagan 4-9, Brock 0-2), KW 4-14 (Warren 2-7, Mills 1-4, Peters 1-1). Rebounds: NKU 40 (Mobley 8), KW 27 (Morton 6). Assists: NKU 21 (Polosky 7), KW 11 (Reynolds 3). Records: NKU 4-1 (3-0 GLVC), KW 1-3 (0-2).