HIGHLAND HTS., Ky. - Quentin Smith scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Northern Kentucky defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 77-63 in Great Lakes Valley Conference men's basketball on Saturday afternoon/
       Despite being down by just two points at 32-30 at halftime and being as close as one point away in the second half, SIUE couldn't overcome 12th-ranked Northern Kentucky at Regents Hall. Northern Kentucky outscored SIUE 16-7 in the final five minutes of the game in improving its record to 13-2 overall and 7-1 in the GLVC.
       SIUE fell to 6-7 and 2-5 in the GLVC.
       Rob Baumgardner led the offense for the Cougars with a team-high 15 points and six assists. Ron Heflin finished with 13 points, while Justin Ward added 10 points off the bench.
       Northern Kentucky had three other players in double figures with Mike Kelsey (15), Brenden Stowers (14) and Bobby St-Preux (13).
       The Cougars return to action at the Vadalabene Center on Thursday when it meets Saint Joseph's in a 7:30 p.m. matchup.
              -siue cougars-