Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Defense and 3-point shooting were the keys Thursday night as Northern Kentucky University upset NCAA Division II powerhouse Kentucky Wesleyan in a Great Lakes Valley Conference showdown.

Dennis Gagai scored 16 points as NKU posted a 67-62 victory against No. 13 Kentucky Wesleyan in The Bank of Kentucky Center. Scott Bibbins added 15 points for NKU, which improved to 10-8 overall, 3-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Norse were 9-for-19 from 3-point range and defeated Kentucky Wesleyan (18-3, 7-2 GLVC) for the 12th consecutive time. Kentucky Wesleyan has not defeated NKU since Feb. 28, 2004. Norse head coach Dave Bezold is unbeaten (12-0) against the Panthers.

NKU held the Panthers to just 35.2 percent shooting from the field. David Palmer blocked four shots for the Norse and made the going rough for Kentucky Wesleyan on the inside.

Palmer, a 6-foot-9 center, also finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. He netted 11 points in the first half, including a dunk off an assist from Gagai just before the buzzer sounded.

Gagai drained five shots from 3-point range, including back-to-back treys that gave NKU 46-43 lead with 8:29 remaining in the game. After Kentucky Wesleyan tied the score at 46-all on a 3-pointer from Marico Stinson, Bibbins scored while being fouled. He converted the free throw to give the Norse a 49-46 edge at the 7:55 mark, and NKU maintained the lead the remainder of the game.

Jon Van Hoose added seven points off the bench for NKU, which shot 42.9 percent from the field. The Norse were 5-for-9 from 3-point range in the second half and held on to post the key GLVC East Division win.

Desmond Stephens paced Kentucky Wesleyan with 24 points.

NKU entertains in-state rival Bellarmine at 2 p.m. Saturday in a game that will be nationally televised by CBS College Sports. NKU also will hold a special “Break the Bank” promotion in which all upper-level seats are $1 this Saturday.