NKU's Dennis Gagai (30) scored his 900th career point last week.
Sat., Feb. 26
Highland Heights, Ky. – The Bank of Kentucky Center (9,400)
GLVC Tournament (first round)
Quincy (16-10, 9-9 GLVC) at NKU (19-7, 12-6 GLVC), 7 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WQRT (1160 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: NKU leads, 18-8
Last Meeting: QU 58, NKU 56 (1-2-11)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University gets a chance to avenge an early-season loss when Quincy visits The Bank of Kentucky Center at 7 p.m. Saturday for the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
NKU enters the GLVC Tournament as the No. 5 seed in the 12-team field, while Quincy is the No. 8 seed. The Norse are 19-7 overall and posted a 12-6 mark in the GLVC.
Quincy is 16-10 overall, and the Hawks finished 9-9 in GLVC play. Quincy tied Lewis for first place in the GLVC North Division standings. The Hawks own a five-game winning streak entering the GLVC Tournament.
Tickets for Saturday's game go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Wednesday at The Bank of Kentucky Center box office or through Ticketmaster. Ticket prices range from $7 to $12, depending on seat location. Children 6 and under are admitted free and do not need a ticket.
The NKU-Quincy winner advances to St. Louis, Mo., for the quarterfinals of the GLVC Tournament on March 4. The GLVC semifinals are scheduled for March 5, with the championship game set for March 6.
THE SERIES: NKU is 18-8 all-time against Quincy. In their only meeting this season on Jan. 2, Quincy pulled out a 58-56 victory against NKU in Quincy, Ill.
NKU and Quincy have never met in the GLVC Tournament. The Norse have beaten the Hawks twice in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
NKU posted a 97-91 win against Quincy on March 11, 1995 in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Norse also defeated the Hawks, 82-54, on March 7, 1997, in the Great Lakes Regional at Indianapolis, Ind.
TOUGH FINISH: NKU enters the GLVC Tournament having lost three straight to close the regular season. The Norse dropped a 63-60 decision at then-No. 6 Southern Indiana on Saturday in the regular-season finale. Two nights earlier, Indianapolis rallied from a 13-point deficit to post an 81-76 win against NKU in Nicoson Hall.
GAGAI REACHES 900: NKU senior guard
Dennis Gagai enters the GLVC Tournament with 912 career points. Gagai averages 7.5 points per game and has made 47 shots from 3-point range. He has also scored in double figures during the past five games.
GLVC TOURNAMENT HISTORY: NKU is 16-11 all-time in the GLVC Tournament. A year ago, NKU defeated Missouri S&T and Saint Joseph's before losing to Kentucky Wesleyan in the semifinals at Springfield Ill.
Two years ago, the Norse posted a 69-47 win against Bellarmine to claim the GLVC title in Evansville, Ind.
In 2003, the Norse defeated Wisconsin-Parkside, Southern Indiana and Lewis en route to their first-ever GLVC Tournament championship at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Ind.
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 QUINCY: Earlier this season on Jan. 2, Tyler Thompson's rebound basket with 3.3 seconds remaining gave Quincy a 58-56 win over NKU in the Pepsi Arena at Quincy, Ill.
After NKU's
Bobby Shannon tied the game at 56-all with a layup in the final minute, Quincy held the ball for the final shot. Courtney Belger drove in for a short jumper that was off target, but Thompson grabbed the rebound and scored to give Quincy a 58-56 lead.
Malcolm Eleby then committed a turnover with 0.6 seconds left, giving Quincy the victory.
Thompson finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead Quincy, which dominated the glass and owned a 44-27 rebounding advantage.
Tony Rack and
Dennis Gagai both scored 11 points for NKU. The Norse held Quincy to 32.6 percent shooing from the field, but the Hawks grabbed 16 offensive rebounds to stay in the game.
NKU bolted out to a 10-1 lead to start the game, but Quincy rallied and trailed just 26-22 at intermission. The Norse still held a 51-45 lead with 4:54 remaining after a 3-pointer by Rack, but Quincy used an 8-0 run to take a 53-51 advantage at the 1:56 mark.
