Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Thurs., Jan. 20
Louisville, Ky. – Knights Hall (3,000)
NKU (13-3, 6-2 GLVC) at #2 Bellarmine (16-1, 9-0 GLVC), 8 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WQRT (1160 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: NKU leads, 43-32
Last Meeting: BU 85, NKU 77 ot (2-11-10)

Sat., Jan. 22
Owensboro, Ky. - Owensboro Sportscenter (5,002)
NKU at #17 Kentucky Wesleyan (12-3, 5-3 GLVC), 4:15 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WQRT (1160 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: KWC leads, 44-30
Last Meeting: KWC 81, NKU 76 (3-6-10)


HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A showdown looms Thursday night when Northern Kentucky University hits the road to meet nationally ranked Bellarmine in Knights Hall at 8 p.m.

NKU is 13-3 overall, 6-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Bellarmine, which is ranked No. 2 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, is 16-1 overall. The Knights are 9-0 in the GLVC.

NKU enters Thursday with a five-game winning streak after rolling to an 81-64 victory at Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday. Following Thursday's game at Bellarmine, NKU visits No. 17 Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday in Owensboro, Ky.

ALL-TIME SERIES: NKU holds a 43-32 lead in the all-time series against Bellarmine. The Knights, however, won both meetings last season and are 4-1 against NKU in the last five games. NKU owns a 20-18 all-time record against Bellarmine in Knights Hall.

AGAINST NATIONALLY RANKED OPPONENTS: NKU is 1-2 this season when playing nationally ranked opponents. NKU defeated then-No. 4 Grand Valley State (81-65) and lost to then-No. 22 Southern Indiana (76-63) and then-No. 4 West Liberty (109-91).

THE LAST TIME AGAINST BELLARMINE: On Feb. 11, 2010, Braydon Hobbs scored seven of his 27 points in overtime as Bellarmine pulled out an 85-77 win against NKU in Knights Hall. Chris Dowe added seven of his 10 points in the extra session.

Dowe, in fact, hit a 3-pointer to begin the overtime period and give the Knights a lead they would not relinquish. NKU forced overtime when David Palmer drained a 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds left in regulation.

Bellarmine was 10-for-12 at the free-throw line in overtime and did not miss a shot (4-for-4) from the field. The Knights finished at 58.7 percent from the field for the game and 24-for-32 from the charity stripe.

Palmer led NKU with 26 points and was 9-for-10 from the field. Dennis Gagai made five 3-pointers and added 21 points for the Norse, who shot 50.9 percent from the field.

SHANNON SHINES: Bobby Shannon scored a career-high 21 points as NKU posted an 81-64 victory at Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday. Shannon, a 6-foot-5 junior forward, was 10-for-13 from the field and added two assists. He scored 13 points during the first half as NKU built a 40-29 lead.

Shannon has scored in double figures the past four games. He averages 11.3 points per game and is shooting 60.3 percent from the field, which ranks sixth in the GLVC.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Malcolm Eleby added 13 points and 12 rebounds against Wisconsin-Parkside. It was the second double-double of the season for Eleby, who leads NKU in scoring (13.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg).

KNIGHT TIME: NKU senior forward Chris Knight finished with 12 points and six rebounds against Wisconsin-Parkside. Knight averages 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST KWC: On March 6, 2010, Desmond Stephens scored 23 points and collected seven steals as Kentucky Wesleyan rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to post an 81-76 win against NKU in the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament at Springfield, Ill.

Dennis Gagai, who scored a game-high 25 points, buried a pair of 3-pointers early in the second half as NKU gained a 57-47 lead. The Norse still owned a 59-49 advantage with 12:55 remaining after a basket by Chris Knight, but Kentucky Wesleyan countered with a furious rally that produced a game-clinching 22-5 run.