Kevin Schappell leads NKU in scoring

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will play host to a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference rivals this week, beginning with a 7:45 p.m. Thursday game with Kentucky Wesleyan.

The Norse will also meet No. 5 Southern Indiana at 3:15 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall. Both games will be televised live on ICN-6.

Both NKU games will also be broadcast live on WIOK (107.5 FM) and can be heard on the Internet at www.nku.edu/~athletics.

NKU is 8-3 after pulling off a 69-68 upset of 19th-ranked Lynn (Fla.) on Dec. 30 at Boca Raton, Fla. The Norse are 3-0 in the GLVC and are tied with Saint Joseph’s atop the GLVC East standings.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: NKU knocked off a nationally ranked team for the second time this season with its upset of Lynn. The Norse began the season with an 81-71 win over No. 6 Findlay in Regents Hall.

SCHAPPELL IN THE CLUTCH: Kevin Schappell scored 18 points and made six free throws in the final 20 seconds of the game to key NKU’s victory over Lynn.

Schappell leads NKU in scoring at 14.1 points per game, and he leads the GLVC in 3-point shooting at 53.1 percent. He is also No. 2 in the GLVC in free-throw shooting at 89.7 percent.

BIBBINS BAFFLES LYNN: NKU freshman guard Scott Bibbins scored a career-high 11 points against Lynn. He also made a pair of key free throws in the closing seconds of the game to seal the Norse victory.

LUDGOOD TO THE RESCUE: NKU senior center Gavin Ludgood notched a double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) against Lynn. He also added four blocked shots and was 5-for-7 from the field against the Fighting Knights.

NKU’s Scott Bibbins

Ludgood averages 9.7 ppg and 6.2 rebounds per game. He is also shooting 56 percent from the field and leads the team with 14 blocked shots.

MR. CONSISTENT: NKU’s Vincent Humphrey scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the victory at Lynn. Humphrey is scoring 10.5 ppg and has made 81.6 percent of his free throws.

AT HOME THIS SEASON: NKU is 6-0 this season in Regents Hall. The Norse are 2-3 on the road.

ABOUT KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: The Panthers are 4-6 overall after posting a 91-73 win over Union (Ky.) Monday night. Jeremiah Coleman scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Kentucky Wesleyan snapped a five-game losing streak with that victory.

Antonio Bright - who poured in 23 points against Union - leads Kentucky Wesleyan in scoring at 16.5 ppg.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: On Feb. 5, 2005, Mike Kelsey scored a game-high 28 points as NKU defeated Kentucky Wesleyan, 73-66, in Regents Hall. Kelsey made eight 3-pointers and added three assists as the Norse wrapped up their first season sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan since 1988.

ABOUT SOUTHERN INDIANA: The Screaming Eagles are 14-1 after rolling to a 114-56 win over Oakland City on Monday night. Southern Indiana, ranked No. 5 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, is 3-1 in the GLVC.

Chris Thompson leads Southern Indiana in scoring at 18.2 ppg and rebounding at 9.0 rpg. Melvin Hall - who hit eight 3-pointers en route to scoring 32 points against Oakland City on Monday - averages 16.7 ppg. The Screaming Eagles average 88.1 ppg as a team and own a rebound margin of +12.8.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST SOUTHERN INDIANA: On March 6, 2005, Randy Holbrook and Carl Richburg combined for 39 points as Southern Indiana posted a 79-49 victory over NKU to capture the GLVC Tournament championship in Roberts Stadium.

Holbrook finished with 23 points and was named the tournament’s most outstanding player for Southern Indiana. Richburg added 16 points, four assists and three steals for the Screaming Eagles. Mike Kelsey led NKU with 14 points.