LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — Northern Kentucky edged Bellarmine 80-76 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Knights Hall. The Norse led 44-38 at halftime and maintained a narrow advantage throughout the second half. Northern Kentucky forced 17 turnovers, converting them into 23 points, and dominated inside with 44 points in the paint. LJ Wells led the Norse with 17 points and eight rebounds. Jack Karasinski scored a game-high 21 points for the Knights, who were perfect on 13 free throws but managed only four assists. Northern Kentucky improved to 9-3. Bellarmine fell to 4-6. Attendance was 1,227.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and opportunistic offense, the Northern Kentucky Norse weathered a late surge to edge the Bellarmine Knights 80-76 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Knights Hall. The Norse, who improved to 9-3, built their victory on a foundation of relentless defense, forcing 17 Bellarmine turnovers and converting them into 23 points. Northern Kentucky also tallied 14 steals, consistently disrupting the Knights’ offensive flow and generating transition chances. That defensive intensity proved to be the difference in a contest where the final margin was never comfortable. Northern Kentucky established control early, using a 12-0 run midway through the first half to turn a 16-12 deficit into a 24-16 advantage. The spurt was fueled by the defensive activity of guards like Dan Gherezgher and Donovan Oday, who combined for five steals. The Norse took a 44-38 lead into halftime, having shot 50% from the field while limiting Bellarmine to just four assists against nine turnovers. The second half saw Bellarmine, now 4-6, repeatedly chip away at the deficit but never fully recover. Each time the Knights drew close, Northern Kentucky answered with a critical basket or a defensive stop. The Knights closed to within 69-67 on a Jack Karasinski three-pointer with 3:13 remaining, but Gherezgher responded immediately with a steal and a dunk to push the lead back to four. Bellarmine had a final chance in the closing seconds, down 78-76 after Kenyon Goodin’s deep three-pointer with five seconds left. On the ensuing inbounds play, however, LJ Wells was fouled. After missing the first free throw, he intentionally missed the second, and the scramble for the rebound consumed the remaining time, sealing the road victory for the Norse. Karasinski led all scorers with 21 points for Bellarmine, adding eight rebounds. Michael Wilson contributed 14 points for the Knights, who shot a perfect 13-for-13 from the free-throw line but were hampered by their ball-handling issues, registering only four assists as a team. Northern Kentucky’s attack was more balanced and synergistic. Wells, the team’s top star, posted 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks, anchoring the interior. Gherezgher also scored 17 points and added three assists and three steals. Kael Robinson provided a spark off the bench with 15 points, while Oday filled the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Tae Dozier added 12 points. The Norse dominated several key statistical categories, holding a 44-32 advantage in points in the paint, a 14-9 edge in fast-break points, and a decisive 14-4 margin in assists. While both teams had identical 72 possessions, Northern Kentucky’s more efficient and disruptive play proved decisive. The game drew an attendance of 1,227 to Knights Hall. Northern Kentucky, which entered as a 4.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, covered the spread. The total points scored, 156, fell under the pregame over/under line of 153.5. Northern Kentucky returns home to face Oakland on Wednesday. Bellarmine remains at home to host Chattanooga the same night.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — A surging Northern Kentucky team visits a Bellarmine squad seeking consistency as intrastate foes meet in nonconference men’s basketball Saturday at Knights Hall. The Norse (8-3) enter on a high note after a dominant 92-53 victory over Brescia on Tuesday, their seventh win in eight games. Their only stumble in that stretch was a narrow 79-77 road loss to Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 6. Northern Kentucky’s offense has been potent, scoring 90 or more points in four of its last six games. Bellarmine (4-5) looks to rebound from an 81-68 loss at Murray State last Saturday. The Knights have alternated wins and losses over their past five games, struggling to find a sustained rhythm against a challenging early schedule that included road games at Power Five programs Georgia, Kansas State and Notre Dame. The matchup features two of the region’s top scorers. Northern Kentucky is led by guard Kael Robinson, who is averaging 20.6 points over his last three games, including a 26-point effort in the loss to Purdue Fort Wayne. For Bellarmine, guard Brian Waddell has been a consistent force, averaging 20.3 points over his last four contests. He scored 25 points with five assists in the loss to Murray State. Northern Kentucky holds a decisive edge in record, but Bellarmine will have the home-court advantage in the 2,200-seat Knights Hall. The Norse have been strong on the road this season, with wins at Central Michigan and a near-upset at Purdue Fort Wayne. This game represents the final tune-up for both teams before significant upcoming stretches. Northern Kentucky opens Horizon League play at the end of December, while Bellarmine begins its Atlantic Sun Conference schedule in early January. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon.