HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky is the only Horizon League member to reach all three men's basketball tournament semifinals since the event moved to Indiana Farmers Coliseum in 2020. Purdue Fort Wayne, a newcomer to the conference in 2020, has never played a conference tourney game at the Indianapolis venue.
 
Now, the two teams are on a collision course with a 2022 Keeps Horizon League Championship game at stake. They'll meet at 9:30 p.m. Monday, March 7 in a conference tournament semifinal for the right to move on to Tuesday's championship.
 
NKU (19-11) has sizzled since Jan. 20, with victories in 13 of its last 15 games. The third-seeded Norse defeated sixth-seeded Detroit Mercy 77-59 in Thursday's conference tourney quarterfinals at BB&T Arena for the right to advance.
 
All-League Second Team member Marques Warrick averages 16.3 points for the Norse, followed by Trevon Faulkner (11.9 points) and Horizon League Freshman of the Year Sam Vinson (11.7 points, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals). The Norse have held opponents to a league-low 65.6 points per game. They rank 14^th nationally and first in the Horizon League in steals per game (9.1).
 
Purdue Fort Wayne (21-10) has won 10 straight, including Thursday's 78-72 quarterfinal win over No. 8 seed UIC in Fort Wayne, Ind. Senior guard and All-League First Team selection Jarred Godfrey leads the Mastodons in scoring (15.4 ppg) and assists (3.9 apg) while Jalon Pipkins (13.8 ppg) is another key contributor.
 
The 'Dons lead the Horizon League in 3-point percentage (37.7) and average 9.8 triples per game.
 
The teams split in the regular season. The 'Dons won 71-57 in Game One (Dec. 4 in Fort Wayne) behind Pipkins' 21 points. The Mastodons amassed 19 points off turnovers and led by 18 points early in the second half. Trey Robinson paced the Norse with 16 points.
 
NKU turned the tables when it hosted the 'Dons in Game Two, Jan. 28 at BB&T Arena. The Norse denied PFW a field goal for the final 11:58 and finished the 59-49 victory on a 23-4 tear. Vinson led three Norse double-figure scorers with 17 points and added three steals.
 
Tickets are now available for the 2022 Keeps Horizon League Championship semifinals and title game. Visit https://www.ticketmaster.com/horizon-league-basketball-championships-tickets/artist/1700107.