Sat., March 12
NCAA Division II Midwest Regional
Louisville, Ky. – Knights Hall (3,000)
Kentucky Wesleyan (19-9) vs. NKU (20-8), 8:30 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: WQRT (1160 AM) & www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: KWC leads, 45-32
Last Meeting: KWC 91, NKU 89 ot (3-4-11, GLVC Tournament)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University and Kentucky Wesleyan will clash on the basketball court for the fourth time this season when the teams meet Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional at Louisville, Ky.
Less than a week ago, NKU and Kentucky Wesleyan squared off in the quarterfinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis Mo., and the Panthers rallied to pull out a 91-89 victory over the Norse.
During the regular season, NKU won both meetings. The Norse posted a 91-82 overtime win against the Panthers in Owensboro, Ky., and later took a 76-60 decision at Highland Heights, Ky.
NKU enters the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 20-8 record, while Kentucky Wesleyan is 19-9. Bellarmine (27-2) is the top seed and host for the Midwest Regional.
The NKU/Kentucky Wesleyan winner will advance to Sunday's 7:30 p.m. semifinals against either Bellarmine or eighth-seeded Indianapolis (19-8). The championship game is set for March 15 at 7 p.m.
NCAA HISTORY: This is the 12th time NKU has earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Norse finished as national runner-up in both 1996 and '97. NKU is 16-12 all-time in NCAA Tournament play. The Norse lost twice in the 1978 NCAA Division II Tournament as a consolation game was conducted during that era.
SERIES HISTORY: Kentucky Wesleyan owns a 45-32 lead in the all-time series against NKU.
NKU/KWC NCAA HISTORY: The teams have met three times during NCAA Tournament play, and Kentucky Wesleyan owns a 2-1 advantage.
On March 11, 2000, Kentucky Wesleyan posted a 66-62 win against NKU in the regional semifinals at Owensboro, Ky. The following season, Kentucky Wesleyan edged NKU in the regional championship game,
59-57, at Owensboro, Ky.
On March 15, 2008,
NKU defeated Kentucky Wesleyan, 61-55, in the first round of the regional tournament at Allendale, Mich.
AGAINST THE MIDWEST REGION FIELD: This season, NKU is 2-1 against Kentucky Wesleyan, 1-0 against Drury, 1-1 against Indianapolis, 0-2 against Bellarmine and 0-2 against Southern Indiana.
GAGAI AT 938: NKU senior guard
Dennis Gagai enters Saturday with 938 career points, which is 28th in school history. Gagai has scored in double figures the past seven games.
ELEBY NEARS NKU RECORD: NKU senior guard
Malcolm Eleby enters Saturday having attempted 203 free throws this season. The Norse single-season record is 226, set by current NKU assistant coach Brenden Stowers during the 2002-03 campaign. Stowers also made a Norse single-season record 187 free throws in 2002-03.
YOUNG MAKES NKU RESTLESS: In three games against NKU this season, Kentucky Wesleyan's Anthony Young has averaged 27.0 points per contest.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: On March 4, Anthony Young made a pair of free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining in overtime after a technical foul had been assessed to NKU, giving Kentucky Wesleyan a 91-89 victory. The Panthers eliminated NKU from the GLVC Tournament for the second straight season.
With the score tied at 89-all and 1.4 seconds left on the clock, NKU had possession of the ball at midcourt with no timeouts remaining.
Ethan Faulkner attempted to inbound the ball, but when no teammates broke open, he called a timeout.
NKU was assessed the technical foul, and Young made both free throws to give Kentucky Wesleyan a 91-89 lead. NKU retained possession and had a final chance, but two defenders blocked
Dennis Gagai's desperation attempt as time expired.
Young finished with a career-high 36 points for Kentucky Wesleyan, which avenged two regular-season losses to NKU. The Panthers rallied from an 89-85 deficit in the final 21 seconds to pull out the victory. Young buried a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining to tie the game at 89-all.
NKU missed four free throws in the final 34 seconds, giving Kentucky Wesleyan a chance.
Bobby Shannon scored a career-high 23 points for NKU.
Josh Tabb added 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Norse, who shot 53.7 percent from the field.
NCAA Division II Midwest Regional (at Louisville, Ky.)
Saturday, March 12
Game 1 - #3 Wayne State (Mich.) (22-7) vs. #6 Ferris State (22-7), noon
Game 2 - #2 Southern Indiana (24-5) vs. #7 Drury (22-7), 2:30 p.m.
Game 3 - #1 Bellarmine (27-2) vs. #8 Indianapolis (19-8), 6 p.m.
Game 4 - #4 Northern Kentucky (20-8) vs. #5 Kentucky Wesleyan (19-9), 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 13
Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 15
Championship, 7 p.m.
TICKET PRICES
All 4 Session Package
Reserved Chair Back - $48
General Admission - $40
Students - $20
3 Session Package
Reserved Chair Back - $36
General Admission - $30
Students - $15
2 Session Package
Reserved Chair Back - $24
General Admission - $20
Students - $10
1 Session Package
Reserved Chair Back - $12
General Admission - $10
Students - $5
