Bellarmine posted an 86-75 win over NKU on Thursday night.
Photo gallery |
Box score |
Video highlights
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Bank of Kentucky Center is the home facility of Northern Kentucky University, but don't blame Bellarmine for feeling very comfortable in the 9,400-seat arena.
Bellarmine remained perfect (3-0) all-time against NKU in The Bank of Kentucky Center by posting an 86-75 victory over the Norse on Thursday night in a clash between two teams ranked in the NCAA Division II Top 10. The second-ranked Knights sizzled the nets for 59.2 percent shooting from the field in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 5,249 to defeat No. 8 NKU for the seventh consecutive time.
“The students have been there supporting us all year, and then to see such a tremendous crowd tonight, it was a great atmosphere,” NKU head coach
Dave Bezold said. “Unfortunately, we were unable to get a win, even though I thought we battled.”
NKU had moved up to No. 2 in the latest regional poll after wins over Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana, but the Norse were unable to pull off the upset of the defending NCAA Division II national champions on Thursday. Bellarmine improved to 24-2 overall, 16-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
The Knights are also ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Region poll, and Thursday's win might have sealed the top seed for Bellarmine in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
NKU dropped to 21-5 overall, 13-5 in the GLVC. The Norse had won six consecutive games going into Thursday.
Luke Sprague scored 28 points to lead Bellarmine, which placed all five starters in double figures. Sprague was 7-for-8 from the field and converted 11-of-13 from the free-throw line.
Jeremy Kendle added 20 points for the Knights, who shot 65.4 percent from the field in the second half. Bellarmine built a 40-29 halftime lead and cruised to the win despite allowing NKU to shoot 55.2 percent from the field in the second half.
Jon Van Hoose and
DeAndre Nealy each finished with 19 points for NKU, while teammate
Eshaunte Jones added 18. Van Hoose knocked down five 3-pointers, while Nealy finished 9-for-12 from the field.
“I'm not worried about individual stats, all I know is that we lost the game,” Van Hoose said. “We just have to go back to practice and get better because the season is not over.”
Van Hoose, Nealy, and fellow seniors
Tony Rack and manager
Danny Boehmker were honored prior to the game.
Ethan Faulkner dished out nine assists for the Norse, who were playing a GLVC regular-season game for the final time. NKU joins the Atlantic Sun Conference next season.
NKU still holds a 43-37 lead in the all-time series with Bellarmine, but the Knights have won nine of the last 10 games against the Norse. NKU's last win over Bellarmine came during the GLVC Tournament championship game on March 8, 2009, a 69-47 victory against the Knights in Evansville, Ind.
The Norse are now 56-130 all-time against nationally ranked opponents, including a 3-4 record this season.
NKU is the No. 3 seed for the upcoming GLVC Tournament and will play in the quarterfinals of that event March 2 in Springfield, Ill. Pairings will be announced Sunday after the conclusion of the first round.
