Bobby Shannon (2) has helped NKU compile a 19-5 record this season.
Thurs., Feb. 17
Indianapolis, Ind. – Nicoson Hall (4,000)
#21 NKU (19-5, 12-4 GLVC) at Indianapolis (18-7, 11-6), 7:30 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WQRT (1160 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: NKU leads, 35-28
Last Meeting: NKU 87, UI 69 (12-4-10)
Sat., Feb. 19
Evansville, Ind. – PAC Arena (2,300)
NKU at #6 S. Indiana (21-3, 13-3 GLVC), 4:15 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WQRT (1160 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: USI leads, 46-18
Last Meeting: USI 76, NKU 63 (12-2-10)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University closes the regular season this week with a pair of tough Great Lakes Valley Conference road games, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. Thursday showdown at Indianapolis.
NKU wraps up the road trip Saturday with a 4:15 p.m. game at No. 6 Southern Indiana. The Norse are 19-5 overall, 12-4 in the GLVC. NKU is No. 21 in this week's NCAA Division II poll.
Indianapolis is 18-7 overall, 11-6 in the GLVC. Southern Indiana is 21-3 overall, 13-3 in the GLVC.
THE SERIES: NKU owns a 35-28 lead in the all-time series against Indianapolis. Southern Indiana holds a 46-18 advantage in the all-time series with NKU.
IN NICOSON HALL: NKU is 12-18 all-time against Indianapolis in Nicoson Hall. A year ago, Indianapolis posted a 55-54 win over NKU in Nicoson Hall. NKU, however, has won four of the past five games in Nicoson Hall.
IN THE PAC ARENA: NKU is 3-24 all-time against Southern Indiana in the Physical Activities Center. NKU's last win over Southern Indiana in the PAC Arena was a 99-87 victory in the 1996 NCAA II Great Lakes Region championship game.
NKU has not won a regular-season game in the PAC Arena since the 1994-95 campaign, when the Norse rallied for a 96-90 victory over then-No. 1 Southern Indiana.
AGAINST NATIONALLY RANKED OPPONENTS: NKU is 2-4 this season when playing nationally ranked opponents. NKU defeated then-No. 4 Grand Valley State (81-65) and then-No. 17 Kentucky Wesleyan (91-82 in overtime). NKU has lost to then-No. 22 Southern Indiana (76-63), then-No. 4 West Liberty (109-91) and No. 2 Bellarmine twice (85-74 and 71-59).
REGIONAL RANKING: NKU remained No. 4 in this week's NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll. Bellarmine is No. 1, followed by Southern Indiana, Findlay, NKU and Drury to round out the top five. Indianapolis is No. 8 in this week's poll.
TENACIOUS DEFENSE: NKU is No. 1 in the GLVC in scoring defense (65.0 ppg) and tied for No. 1 with Southern Indiana in field-goal percentage defense (.422).
20-WIN SEASON: NKU needs one victory to clinch a 20-win season for the 13th time in the program's history. NKU head coach
Dave Bezold has led NKU to 20-win seasons three times.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: Earlier this season on Dec. 4,
Chris Knight scored a career-high 27 points – 20 of those in the second half - as NKU coasted to an 87-69 win over Indianapolis. The 6-foot-7 senior forward was 9-for-10 from the field and made all nine of his free-throw attempts for NKU.
Senior guard
Dennis Gagai added nine points for NKU. Senior guard
Malcolm Eleby dished out eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds for the Norse, who shot 55.8 percent from the field.
NKU used a 14-3 run to end the first half that extended a 28-24 lead into a 42-27 advantage at the break.
Ethan Faulkner scored six points to spark the Norse spurt.
In the second half, Knight took over by pouring in 20 points. Included were a pair of vicious dunks as NKU rolled past the visiting Greyhounds.
Bobby Shannon added 17 points for the Norse.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST USI: Earlier this season on Dec. 2, C.J. Trotter and Mohamed Ntumba combined for 48 points and 12 rebounds to lead Southern Indiana to a 76-63 win against NKU in The Bank of Kentucky Center.
Trotter scored 26 points and grabbed five rebounds for Southern Indiana. Ntumba added 22 points and seven rebounds as the Screaming Eagles shot 58 percent from the field and held NKU to just 31.1 percent shooting.
Southern Indiana dominated the glass and finished with a whopping 43-25 rebounding advantage. Ntumba, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound center, shot 10-for-12 from the field and added three blocked shots.
