Feb. 19, 2000

NKU DEFEATS IPFW, 68-63

Norse improve to 23-4 and finish unbeaten (14-0) at home

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Senior forward Scott Marston scored 21 points Saturday night as the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team rallied to defeat Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, 68-63, in Regents Hall.

Junior guard Craig Conley scored his 1,000th career point Saturday night as the Norse improved to 23-4 overall, 15-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. NKU, which is ranked No. 22 nationally in the Division II Bulletin poll, finished with a 14-0 record at home this season.

NKU rallied from a seven-point deficit (47-40) in the second half to knock off IPFW. Marston, playing in his final home game for NKU, made five three-point shots to spark the Norse. Junior forward Adam Norwell added 11 points for NKU.

NKU has now won 11 consecutive games against IPFW, and the Norse have not lost to the Mastodons since the 1994-95 season. IPFW’s last win against NKU came on Jan. 12, 1995, when the Mastodons held off the Norse, 84-75, at the Gates Sports Center in Fort Wayne, Ind.

NKU will conclude the regular season next week with road games at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (8:30 p.m. on Thursday) and the University of Southern Indiana (8:30 p.m. on Saturday).

The Norse will then play in the GLVC Tournament March 2-4 in Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Ind. NKU, which is ranked No. 4 in the latest Great Lakes Region rankings, is also seeking a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Pairings for the NCAA Division II Tournament will be announced March 5. The top six teams in the Great Lakes Region poll will qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament.