NKU jumped to No. 18 in this week's NCAA Division II national poll.
Thurs., Feb. 10
Highland Heights, Ky. – The Bank of Kentucky Center (9,400)
Ky. Wesleyan (15-6, 8-6 GLVC) at #18 NKU (18-4, 11-3), 7:45 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WQRT (1160 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: KWC leads, 44-31
Last Meeting: NKU 91, KWC 82 ot (1-22-11)
Sat., Feb. 12
Highland Heights, Ky. – The Bank of Kentucky Center (9,400)
#2 Bellarmine (21-1, 14-0 GLVC) at NKU, 7:45 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WQRT (1160 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: NKU leads, 43-33
Last Meeting: BU 85, NKU 74 (1-20-11)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University plays host to Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division rivals Kentucky Wesleyan and Bellarmine this week in a key homestand.
NKU plays host to Kentucky Wesleyan at 7:45 p.m. Thursday. The Norse close out their regular-season home schedule Saturday at 7:45 p.m. against Bellarmine.
NKU has won five consecutive games and is 18-4 overall, 11-3 in the GLVC. The Norse are 10-1 in their last 11 games, with the only loss an 85-74 setback at Bellarmine on Jan. 20.
Kentucky Wesleyan is 15-6 overall, 8-6 in the GLVC. Bellarmine, which is ranked No. 2 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, is 21-1 overall, 14-0 in the GLVC.
NATIONAL POLL: NKU vaulted to No. 18 in this week's NCAA Division II national poll after winning a pair of road games. The Norse were 24th in last week's national poll.
THE SERIES: Kentucky Wesleyan owns a 44-31 lead in the all-time series against NKU. The Norse hold a 43-33 edge against Bellarmine in that all-time series.
NKU is 21-12 all-time at home against Kentucky Wesleyan and has beaten the Panthers six straight times in Highland Heights. NKU is 22-14 all-time at home against Bellarmine.
REGIONAL POLL: NKU remained No. 4 in this week's NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll. Bellarmine is No. 1, and Kentucky Wesleyan is No. 7 in the poll.
KNIGHT TIME: Chris Knight buried a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds remaining in the game to give NKU a 72-69 victory against Drury on Sunday.
Drury, which trailed by as many as 23 points in the second half, tied the game at 69-all with 27 seconds left on a basket by Dennon Mitchell. NKU held the ball for the final shot, and Knight drained a 24-footer to give the Norse a 72-69 lead.
Knight finished with 14 points and five rebounds for NKU. Knight also made a pair of 3-pointers - his first two treys of the season.
AGAINST NATIONALLY RANKED OPPONENTS: NKU is 2-3 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 (85-74).
TENACIOUS DEFENSE: NKU is No. 1 in the GLVC in scoring defense (65.0 ppg) and field-goal percentage defense (.419).
NEARING 700: The NKU men's basketball program has recorded 686 all-time victories going into Thursday night. This is the 40th season of competition for NKU.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: Earlier this season on Jan. 22, NKU shook off a last-second basket by Kentucky Wesleyan that forced overtime, and the Norse outscored the Panthers 14-5 in the extra session to pull off a 91-82 upset in the Owensboro Sportscenter.
Bobby Shannon and
Malcolm Eleby each scored 17 points to lead the Norse.
Josh Tabb and
Corey Sorrell both added 13 points apiece for NKU, which shot 56.4 percent from the field.
Depth was also a factor, as NKU's bench outscored Kentucky Wesleyan's reserves by a 32-4 margin for the game.
NKU owned a 77-75 lead with seven seconds remaining in regulation after Tabb converted one of two free throws. Following a timeout, Kentucky Wesleyan's Cardell McFarland drove the length of the court and scooped in a basket with 0.6 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 77-all.
In the overtime, NKU was 4-for-5 from the field and led the entire session.
Dennis Gagai scored a basket while being fouled to begin the overtime, and he converted the free throw to give NKU an 80-77 lead.
After Kentucky Wesleyan's Kwan Waller made two free throws, Tabb and Eleby added consecutive baskets to extend the Norse advantage to 84-79.
