Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Jeremy Saffold scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half as Wisconsin-Parkside rallied for a 62-61 win against Northern Kentucky University on Saturday.

Jamere Dismukes added 14 points and made five free throws in the final 18 seconds to seal the win for Wisconsin-Parkside, which defeated NKU on the road for the first time in history. Going into Saturday's game, the Rangers were 0-14 all-time in Highland Heights.

After Dismukes converted one of two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to give Wisconsin-Parkside a 62-58 cushion, Dennis Gagai made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to account for the final margin.

Grant Johnson finished with 11 points for Wisconsin-Parkside, which improved to 7-10 overall, 2-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Rangers shot just 38.9 percent from the field but cashed in on 17-for-19 shooting at the free-throw line to defeat NKU.

David Palmer led NKU (8-8 overall, 1-6 GLVC) with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while teammate Scott Bibbins added 15 points. The Norse built a seven-point lead early in the second half, but Wisconsin-Parkside refused to fold and eventually gained a 42-41 advantage on a basket by Saffold with 12:52 remaining.

Saffold was fouled while making that basket, and NKU's Yan Moukoury was also assessed a technical foul. Johnson made both technical free throws to extend the Ranger lead to 44-41, and Saffold capped the sequence by making his charity toss to make it 45-41.

Wisconsin-Parkside held the lead until Bibbins buried a 3-pointer with 1:57 left to tie the score at 55-all. The Rangers countered quickly, though, as Sam Katula beat the NKU defense for a driving layup off an assist from Dismukes at the 1:48 mark.

After two NKU misses, Dismukes was fouled with 17 seconds left and made a pair of free throws to extend the Ranger lead to 59-55. Bibbins scored a basket with 10.7 seconds remaining to bring NKU to within 59-57, but Dismukes sealed the win by making three free throws in the final seconds.

NKU, which has lost four consecutive games, shot 41.5 percent from the field and was 7-for-19 from 3-point range. Bibbins made a trio of 3-pointers for the Norse.

Moukoury finished with 10 points for NKU, which visits GLVC newcomer Maryville (Mo.) Monday at 4:15 p.m. The Norse meet Kentucky Wesleyan at 7:45 p.m. Thursday.