NKU’s Billy Finnell

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will play host to Grand Valley State at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Regents Hall.

The Thanksgiving Eve game will feature a pair of unbeaten teams meeting in a key regional matchup. NKU and Grand Valley State each sport 2-0 records, and both teams are in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region.

NORSE OFF TO IMPRESSIVE START: NKU opened the season in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic over the weekend and knocked off sixth-ranked Findlay, 81-71, on Friday. The Norse met Saginaw Valley State the next night and posted a 74-66 win.

NKU’s win against Findlay marked the second straight year the Norse upset the sixth-ranked team in the national poll on opening night. A year ago, NKU defeated then-No. 6 Michigan Tech, 55-53.

FINNELL TO THE RESCUE: Billy Finnell did not start either game during the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic, but the freshman point guard turned out to be one of the most important players in the two-day event.

In fact, Finnell was named most outstanding player Saturday night after leading the Norse past Saginaw Valley State. The Purcell Marian graduate came off the bench and dished out a career-best eight assists, scored nine points and added three steals.

That came one day after Finnell scored 13 points and had five assists in the upset of Findlay.

SCHAPPELL EARNS HONOR: NKU junior Kevin Schappell was named the recipient of the John L. Griffin Hustle Award on Saturday. Schappell averaged 12.5 points and 3.5 rebounds during the two-day event. He scored 14 second-half points to spark NKU’s victory over Findlay in the opener last Friday.

NKU’s Kevin Schappell

Schappell enters Wednesday’s game shooting 77.8 percent from the field.

BENCH STRENGTH: The NKU bench poured in 40 points and added nine assists in the victory against Saginaw Valley State. Sophomore guard Mark Hawkins tied a career high with nine points on Saturday off the bench for NKU.

RHINO RIGHT ON: NKU junior forward Kevin Reinhardt scored 21 points in the win over Saginaw Valley State. Reinhardt leads the Norse in rebounding (7.5 rpg) and averaged 13.5 ppg.

ABOUT GRAND VALLEY STATE: The Lakers are 2-0 after posting a 90-38 win over Grace Bible College on Tuesday. Grand Valley State placed four players in double figures and held Grace Bible to 27.5 percent shooting from the field to roll to the easy win.

Jason Jamerson leads Grand Valley State in scoring at 19.0 ppg. Callistus Eziukwu, a 6-foot-10 center, averages a double-double (13.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg) for the Lakers.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST GRAND VALLEY STATE: On March 8, 2001, in the first round of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional at Owensboro, Ky., NKU survived a barrage of 3-pointers by Grand Valley State - an assault that resulted in 25 points in the final two minutes - to post a wild 106-102 victory against the Lakers. Grand Valley made 17 3-point shots, including six in the final two minutes.

Craig Sanders scored 32 points to lead NKU, and Adam Norwell added 28 points and 11 rebounds. NKU built a 91-77 lead with 2:05 remaining, but Grand Valley State used a 25-13 run to get within 104-102 on John Flynn’s 3-pointer with one second left. NKU’s Adam Norwell sealed the win with a dunk at the buzzer.