Vincent Humphrey launches a 3-pointer

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will travel to Florida this week for a pair of games against opponents from the Sunshine State Conference.

NKU will begin by playing Nova Southeastern at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The Norse will conclude their trip Friday with a 7 p.m. game against No. 19 Lynn (Fla.).

NKU is 7-2 after posting an 85-39 win over Thomas More on Dec. 23. The Norse are 3-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and will resume league play Jan. 5 against Kentucky Wesleyan in Regents Hall.

STREAK CONTINUES AGAINST TMC: NKU has now beaten Thomas More 20 consecutive times and holds a 29-5 lead in the all-time series with the Saints. NKU has not lost to Thomas More since the 1980-81 season, when the Saints defeated the Norse by a 61-52 score in Regents Hall.

ON TARGET: NKU’s Kevin Schappell scored a career-high 25 points in the win over Thomas More. He poured in 20 points during the first half and finished the game with six 3-point field goals.

Schappell, who was 9-for-15 from the field, leads NKU in scoring at 13.4 points per game. He also is No. 2 in the GLVC in 3-point shooting at 56.8 percent.

HAWK TIME: NKU sophomore guard Mark Hawkins scored a career-high 13 points against Thomas More. Hawkins drained a trio of 3-pointers in the first half and helped NKU build a 45-24 lead at the break.

HUMPHREY NO. 1 IN THE GLVC: NKU sophomore forward Vincent Humphrey leads the GLVC in 3-point shooting at 57.1 percent. Humphrey, who averages 10.0 ppg, is shooting 12-for-21 behind the arc. He is also shooting 81.3 percent from the free-throw line and 49.1 percent from the floor.

Gavin Ludgood averages 10.2 points

STILL UNBEATEN AT HOME: NKU improved to 6-0 this season in Regents Hall with the victory against Thomas More. The Norse are 1-2 on the road.

McFARLAND HAS CAREER NIGHT: NKU freshman guard David McFarland recorded career highs in assists (six) and rebounds (eight) against Thomas More. McFarland also had two steals and just one turnover in 29 minutes of action.

LUDGOOD JUST MISSES DOUBLE-DOUBLE: NKU senior center Gavin Ludgood just missed a double-double against Thomas More by finishing with nine points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes of playing time. Ludgood averages 10.2 ppg and is shooting 58.6 percent from the field.

TURNING UP THE DEFENSE: NKU held Thomas More to 17.9 percent shooting from the field during the second half. The Saints made just one field goal during the first 15 minutes of the second half and finished 5-for-28 from the floor in the final 20 minutes.

UNSELFISH PLAY: NKU dished out 23 assists against Thomas More.

ABOUT NOVA SOUTHEASTERN: The Sharks are 5-2 after defeating North Alabama, 92-91, in overtime on Dec. 17 at Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Luis Gurrieres made a free throw with 4.5 seconds remaining to win it for Nova Southeastern.

Freshman center David Naylor recorded his third double-double of the season with 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while senior guard Kenny Faulk also added 21 points in the triumph.

Naylor leads Nova Southeastern in scoring (14.0 ppg) and rebounding (9.6 rpg). Faulk averages 10.4 ppg for the Sharks, who have never met NKU in men’s basketball.

ABOUT LYNN: The Fighting Knights are 8-2 and ranked 19th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. Marcus Hayes led Lynn to an 88-58 victory over Southern Connecticut State on Dec. 20 with a season-high 27 points. Hayes also made a career-high seven 3-point baskets as the Fighting Knights hit a school-record 14 3-pointers in the victory.

Hayes leads Lynn in scoring at 19.4 ppg. Andrew Smith is scoring 12.1 ppg for the Fighting Knights, who advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four last season.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST LYNN: On March 20, 1997, in the NCAA Division II Final Four at Louisville, Ky., NKU rolled to a 79-58 win over Lynn. Paul Cluxton and Shannon Minor each scored 18 points to lead the Norse to their 30th victory of the season. Cliff Clinton grabbed 14 rebounds for NKU.

The victory sent NKU to the NCAA Division II national championship game against Cal State Bakersfield. The Norse dropped a 57-56 decision to Cal State Bakersfield to finish as national runner-up for the second straight year.