Jan. 12, 2001

NKU PLAYS SAINT JOSEPH’S SATURDAY

Norse 14-1 after winning at IPFW on Thursday

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team is 14-1 after rallying to defeat Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, 85-77, Thursday night at Fort Wayne, Ind. NKU is now 5-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Craig Sanders scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half Thursday to lead NKU. Sanders made a trio of three-point shots in the second half as NKU rallied from a 44-40 halftime deficit. His three-pointer with 3:12 remaining in the game gave NKU a 77-75 lead, and the Norse never trailed again. NKU is ranked No. 4 nationally in the Division II poll. MITCHELL’S STREAK CONTINUES: NKU junior forward Carl Mitchell scored in double figures for the eighth straight game Thursday with 12 points. Mitchell, NKU's sixth man, averages 14.5 points per game and 7.3 rebounds. He also leads NKU with 24 blocked shots. CARDIAC KIDS: When NKU posted its 85-77 victory at IPFW Thursday, it marked the third time this season that the Norse had rallied from a second-half deficit to win a GLVC game. Earlier this season, NKU also trailed in the second half in games against Lewis and Indianapolis before rallying to win. ABOUT SJC: The Pumas are 7-8 after an 88-79 loss to the University of Indianapolis on Thursday. Saint Joseph’s is 1-5 in the GLVC. The Pumas held a 39-32 halftime lead Thursday, but Indianapolis shot 60 percent from the field in the second half to post the victory. Saint Joseph’s placed five players in double figures but was unable to hold off the Greyhounds. Brent Mason leads Saint Joseph’s in scoring at 19.5 ppg. He also averages 6.6 rebounds per contest. Hodges Smith averages 13.4 ppg, and Brandon Yates is scoring 11.7 ppg. THE LAST TIME AGAINST SJC: On Feb. 17, 2000, Craig Conley scored 20 points as NKU defeated Saint Joseph’s, 85-71, in Regents Hall. The Norse also won the first meeting of last season by a 110-80 score at Rensselaer, Ind. NKU connected on 17 three-point shots in that game. Craig Sanders scored 28 points to lead the Norse. STREAK AGAINST SJC: NKU has won 12 consecutive games against Saint Joseph’s. NKU has not lost to Saint Joseph’s since the 1993-94 season, when the Pumas posted an 83-74 victory against the Norse at Rensselaer, Ind.