Feb. 26, 2000

SOUTHERN INDIANA DEFEATS NKU, 75-60

Norse lose to Great Lakes Region’s No. 1 team

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Senior guard Brandun Hughes scored 20 points and dished out five assists Saturday night as the 13th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team defeated Northern Kentucky University, 75-60, at the Physical Activities Center.

Southern Indiana (22-4) held NKU to just 26.7 percent shooting from the field during the second half to clinch second place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a 17-3 record. NKU dropped to 24-5 overall, 16-4 in the GLVC, and the Norse will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming GLVC Tournament.

NKU, which is ranked No. 19 nationally in the Division II Bulletin poll, made just 6 of 22 three-point attempts and committed 18 turnovers. Sophomore forward Craig Sanders led the Norse with 11 points.

Southern Indiana entered Saturday’s game ranked No. 1 in the latest Great Lakes Region poll, and NKU was No. 3 in the ratings. Southern Indiana is now 14-0 at home this season, and the Screaming Eagles have not lost to NKU in the Physical Activities Center since 1996.

NKU will next play at the GLVC Tournament in Roberts Stadium at Evansville, Ind., and the Norse will face Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne in the first round on March 2 at 1 p.m. (EST).

NKU 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.