NKU seniors David Palmer (34) and Scott Bibbins (1) in pregame ceremonies.
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Box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University's
David Palmer made his final appearance in The Bank of Kentucky Center a memorable experience Saturday night by leading his team to a 65-61 win against Indianapolis.
Palmer scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and the 6-foot-9 senior center was 9-for-11 at the free-throw line as NKU rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second half to pull out the win. Palmer and fellow senior
Scott Bibbins were recognized prior to the contest, which was NKU's final regular-season game.
Dennis Gagai added 15 points for NKU, which improved to 15-12 overall, 8-10 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Yan Moukoury added 10 points for the Norse, who wrapped up the No. 3 seed in the GLVC East Division.
Indianapolis (12-15 overall, 6-12 GLVC) held a 38-31 lead with 16:36 remaining in the game, but NKU responded with a 9-1 run to take a 40-39 advantage on
Ethan Faulkner's 3-pointer with 14:46 left on the clock. Moukoury sparked the Norse spurt by knocking down a 3-pointer and then finishing off a conventional three-point play on NKU's next possession.
Sergey Struck's jumper with 3:20 remaining gave Indianapolis a 58-57 lead, but Palmer drew a foul and made a pair of free throws that put NKU on top for good at 59-58. After Darius Adams missed a jumper on Indianapolis next possession, Gagai drained a long 3-pointer to give NKU a 62-58 edge.
Gagai sealed the win for NKU by sinking a pair of free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining, and the Norse avenged a 55-54 loss at Indianapolis on Dec. 3. NKU shot 45.7 percent from the field and finished 8-for-16 from 3-point range.
Bibbins finished with nine points and four assists in his final home game. Adams scored 17 points to pace Indianapolis, which won the rebounding battle by a 35-29 margin.
NKU will meet Missouri S&T in the first round of the GLVC Tournament next Saturday at either Quincy or Saint Joseph's. Quincy can earn the first-round bye and right to host by defeating Southern Indiana on Monday in Evansville, Ind.
If Southern Indiana defeats Quincy, Saint Joseph's gets the No. 1 seed from the GLVC North Division and will earn the first-round bye. The NKU/Missouri S&T winner will meet the No. 1 seed next Sunday for the right to advance to the GLVC Tournament semifinals in Springfield, Ill., March 6-7.
