Unbeaten NKU (8-0) plays host to Salem International on Sunday.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University closes out the pre-Christmas portion of its schedule Sunday with a 5 p.m. non-conference game against Salem International in The Bank of Kentucky Center.
NKU is 8-0 and ranked No. 21 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. Salem International is 1-10 after suffering a 104-78 loss at Kentucky Wesleyan on Thursday night.
Sunday's game will mark the first meeting between the two programs.
NEAR MISS: NKU and Salem International (then known as Salem-Teikyo) nearly played for the 1997 NCAA Division II national championship in Louisville, Ky. NKU knocked off Lynn (Fla.) in the national semifinals, while Salem-Teikyo owned the lead against Cal State Bakersfield in the second half of the other semifinal contest.
Cal State Bakersfield, however, rallied to defeat Salem-Teikyo and won the national title two days later by posting a 57-56 win over NKU.
MR. CONSISTENCY: Chad Jackson scored a career-high 22 points to lead unbeaten NKU to an 85-61 win over Urbana last Sunday. The sophomore guard, a transfer from James Madison in his first season with the Norse, also added four rebounds and three steals.
Jackson's previous career-high point total was 19, set earlier this season during a 95-74 win at Urbana. He shot 8-for-11 from the field on Sunday and made all five of his free-throw attempts.
Jackson is No. 4 in the GLVC with an average of 5.13 assists per game.
TREY-RIFFIC: NKU was 14-for-34 from 3-point range against Urbana. NKU knocked down seven treys in each half to overwhelm the visiting Blue Knights. The school record for 3-pointers made is 19, set against Indiana-East on Dec. 19, 2007.
Jon Van Hoose knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 18 points against Urbana.
THE STREAK: NKU is now 24-0 all-time against non-conference opponents in The Bank of Kentucky Center. The Norse are 44-5 all-time in The Bank of Kentucky Center, with all five losses coming against Great Lakes Valley Conference foes. Bellarmine (twice), Southern Indiana, Quincy and Wisconsin-Parkside have defeated NKU in the 9,400-seat arena, which opened in 2008.
SAAC TOY DRIVE: For Sunday, the NKU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) toy drive voucher can be redeemed for free game admission. Call (859) 572-5962 for more information.
UP NEXT: The Norse return to action Dec. 30 with a 1 p.m. game against Shepherd (W.Va.). NKU then resumes Great Lakes Valley Conference play Jan. 5 with a home game against William Jewell. The Norse close out the homestand Jan. 7 with a GLVC game against Rockhurst.
