KWC Holds Off NKU in GLVC Men's Basketball Semifinal
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Third-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan sprinted out to a big lead and then held off a feisty Northern Kentucky squad on Saturday evening to pull out a 81-76 win. The Panthers (29-3) will meet the winner of the Drury/Bellarmine game on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. CST.
Senior Desmond Stephens paced the Panthers in the victory and tallied 13 points in the first half. After starting the second half slowly, Stephens helped the Panthers rally after losing a 16-point first-half lead and finished with 23 points, seven steals and five assists.
Kentucky Wesleyan shot 55 percent from the field in the second half and converted 22-of-29 free throws.
Northern Kentucky erased the early first-half deficit behind a strong post presence in David Palmer and the outside shooting of Dennis Gagai. Palmer finished with 25 points and Palmer added 17 pointsl, seven rebounds and five blocked shots.
The Norse tied a GLVC tournament record by converting all 23 free throw attempts.