Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Josh Tabb scored 16 points to lead No. 18 Northern Kentucky University to a 76-60 win against Kentucky Wesleyan on Thursday night.

Dennis Gagai added 15 points as NKU extended its winning streak to six and improved to 19-4 overall, 12-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Malcolm Eleby finished with 13 points and five assists for the Norse, who have won 11 of their past 12 games.

Tabb, a senior guard, netted 10 points in the first half as NKU built a 36-30 lead at the break. The Norse took advantage of 11 Kentucky Wesleyan turnovers in the first half and were 5-for-14 from 3-point range before the break.

Anthony Young scored 22 points to lead Kentucky Wesleyan. Young's 3-pointer early in the second half cut NKU's lead to 40-39, but the Norse responded with a 15-6 run to extend their advantage to 55-45 on Gagai's 3-pointer with 9:16 left in the game.

NKU, which made 57.1 percent of its shots from the field in the second half, led by as many as 19 points late in the game and wrapped up the season sweep of the Panthers. Last month, NKU pulled out a 91-82 overtime win against Kentucky Wesleyan at Owensboro, Ky.

Kentucky Wesleyan still owns a 44-32 lead in the all-time series with NKU.

Bobby Shannon added nine points for NKU, while Chris Knight finished with seven points before fouling out. NKU shot 50.9 percent from the field and was 9-for-23 from 3-point range. The Norse held Kentucky Wesleyan (15-7 overall, 8-7 GLVC) to 41.2 percent shooting from the field.

NKU also shut down Kentucky Wesleyan guard Cardell McFarland, who finished with just four points on 1-for-8 shooting from the field. He entered Thursday averaging 17.8 points per game.

NKU plays host to No. 2 Bellarmine at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in a battle of teams ranked in the NCAA Division II national poll. Prior to the game, NKU's four seniors – Gagai, Tabb, Chris Knight and Malcolm Eleby – will be recognized.

Bellarmine is ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll, while NKU is No. 4. Kentucky Wesleyan is No. 7 in the Midwest Region poll.

NOTE: NKU clinched a first-round home game for the upcoming GLVC Tournament with the win Thursday night. The Norse will host that game Feb. 26 in The Bank of Kentucky Center against an opponent to be determined.