Mike Kelsey has 1,462 career points

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will play host to Indianapolis in the 2005 Homecoming at 7:45 p.m. this Saturday in Regents Hall.

NKU is 10-11 overall after rallying for a 73-66 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan last Saturday in Regents Hall. The Norse are 6-9 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Mike Kelsey made eight three-pointers en route to a game-high 28 points to lead NKU past Kentucky Wesleyan. Kelsey finished 8-for-16 from behind the three-point arc.

Kelsey now has 1,462 career points, which ranks 10th in Norse history. He has scored in double figures in nine consecutive games and led NKU in scoring in seven of the past eight contests.

OH, BROTHER-IN-LAW: Kelsey is 34 points shy of passing his brother-in-law, Paul Cluxton, for ninth place on the NKU all-time scoring list. Cluxton, who was inducted into the NKU Athletics Hall of Fame on Feb. 4, finished his career with 1,495 career points.

MEMORABLE SHOOTOUT: The last time NKU and Indianapolis met in Regents Hall was Jan. 2, 2004, and the game turned into one of the most memorable contests in Norse history.

Mike Kelsey scored an NKU single-game record 50 points, but Indianapolis’ David Logan countered with 44 points as the Greyhounds edged the Norse, 95-92, in overtime. Kelsey made nine three-pointers in that game and scored 39 points in the second half.

The Norse rallied from a 17-point deficit in the first half and sent the game into overtime when Kelsey made three free throws with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation after he was fouled attempting a three-pointer with Indianapolis holding an 83-80 lead.

Kelsey’s 50-point performance shattered the previous NKU record of 43 points, set by Greg Phelia against Kentucky Wesleyan on Jan. 18, 1992. Kelsey was 16-for-25 from the field, including 9-of-13 shooting from three-point range.

Kelsey’s 50 points were two shy of the GLVC record of 52 (set by Gary Paul of Indianapolis on Jan. 14, 1988, against NKU).

ROWLAND DELIVERS: NKU senior point guard Sean Rowland ranks No. 8 in the GLVC in assists at 4.32 apg. Rowland also ranks No. 3 in the GLVC in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.56.

SMITH ON THE BOARDS: NKU junior forward Derek Smith averages a team-leading 5.3 rebounds per game. He is also scoring 11.2 ppg.

BENCH STRENGTH: NKU junior guard Courtney Fergerson has given the Norse instant offense and solid defense off the bench since joining the team in January. Fergerson is scoring 7.9 ppg and shooting 51.1 percent from the field. Fergerson has also made 60 percent of his three-point shots.

NKU freshman Harrison Morton averages 9.3 ppg off the bench and is shooting 50.8 percent from the field.

ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS: The Greyhounds, who play a road game at Bellarmine on Thursday, are 15-6 overall, 10-4 in the GLVC. Indianapolis features senior guard David Logan, who leads the GLVC in scoring at 28.2 ppg. Logan also leads the GLVC in three-pointers made per game at 4.62.

EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: On Dec. 2, David Logan and Lawrence Barnes combined for 48 points as Indianapolis posted an 85-71 win over NKU in Nicoson Hall.

Logan finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Greyhounds shot 50.7 percent from the field. Barnes added 22 points and six rebounds for Indianapolis, which made 10-of-25 three-point attempts.

The Greyhounds also won the rebounding battle by a 40-33 margin. Mike Adibe had 10 points and nine rebounds for Indianapolis.

Harrison Morton led NKU with 19 points and four assists. Derek Smith finished with 14 points and six rebounds for the Norse, who were held to just 3-for-14 shooting from three-point range.