Feb. 8, 2002

NKU PLAYS AT INDY ON SATURDAY

Norse look to bounce back after loss at Saint Joseph’s

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team is now 15-6 after dropping a 73-70 decision at Saint Joseph’s College on Thursday. The Norse, tied with the University of Southern Indiana for second place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings with an 11-4 record, will play at the University of Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Brent Mason and Corey Seegers scored 18 points each Thursday night to lead Saint Joseph’s past NKU. Marlin Murphy scored 14 points as Saint Joseph’s rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit (37-24) to post the win. Seegers scored all his points in the second half as the Pumas improved to 6-15 overall, 3-12 in the GLVC. NKU held a 53-46 lead with 10:50 remaining in the game, but Saint Joseph’s responded with a 22-7 run during the next seven minutes to build a 68-60 advantage. The Norse closed the gap to two points several times in the final seconds, but the Pumas held on for the victory. The loss was especially costly for the Norse in the NCAA II Great Lakes Region rankings, which will determine which teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament in March. NKU entered Thursday’s game No. 6 in the latest NCAA II Great Lakes Region rankings, and the top six teams in the poll will qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Craig Sanders scored 20 points against Saint Joseph’s and extended his streak of games in double figures to 41. Sanders upped his career point total to 1,865 career points, and he needs 116 to become NKU’s all-time career scoring leader. SHIELDS TO RETURN SATURDAY: NKU played Thursday without head coach Ken Shields, who underwent back surgery last week. He is expected to return to the sidelines Saturday night against Indianapolis. Shields has missed the past five games, and NKU is 3-2 during that time. ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS: The Greyhounds are 13-8 after posting a 67-54 win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside last Saturday. Indianapolis is 9-6 in the GLVC. The Greyhounds are led by senior guard Cedric Moodie, who averages 16.8 points. Freshman guard David Logan is scoring 12.0 ppg. THE LAST TIME AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: Earlier this season on Nov. 29, Carl Mitchell scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots as NKU defeated Indianapolis, 76-53, in Regents Hall. Brenden Stowers added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Bobby St-Preux and Craig Sanders also scored in double figures with 12 points apiece. NKU built a 32-24 halftime lead as Mitchell scored eight points and the Norse held Indianapolis to 34.4 percent shooting from the field. In the second half, NKU made 55.2 percent of its shots from the field to roll to the victory. STREAK AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: NKU has beaten Indianapolis six consecutive times. The Norse have not lost to Indianapolis since Feb. 9, 1999, when the Greyhounds posted an 81-71 win over NKU in Regents Hall.