---OILER SPOILERS: A year ago, NKU pulled off one of the most memorable upsets in school history with a 60-56 win over Findlay during the NCAA Tournament. Steven Wright (1) goes past Findlay’s Frank Phillips (44) for a basket during that victory, which snapped the Oilers’ 59-game home win streak.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team begins play at the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. in Allendale, Mich.

NKU is the No. 4 seed and will meet No. 5 seed Kentucky Wesleyan in the first round. The Norse are 20-7 and defeated the Panthers twice during the regular season. Kentucky Wesleyan enters the NCAA Tournament with a 24-7 record.

Grand Valley State is the No. 1 seed and host for the men’s Great Lakes Regional. The unbeaten Lakers (33-0) meet eighth-seeded Saint Joseph’s in the first round. The winner of that game will meet the NKU/ Kentucky Wesleyan survivor Sunday night in the semifinals.

The championship game is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. All NKU games will be broadcast on WIOK (107.5 FM) and the Internet at www.nkunorse.com

Grand Valley State is the defending regional champion. The Lakers defeated NKU in last season’s NCAA II Great Lakes Region championship game at Findlay, Ohio.

NKU’S NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY: NKU is 15-10 all-time during NCAA Division II Tournament play. The Norse won Great Lakes Region championships in 1996 and ’97, and in both of those seasons they advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game and finished as runner-up.

NORSE STUN NATION LAST YEAR: On March 11, 2007, NKU snapped the nation’s longest home winning streak at 59 with a 60-56 victory over top-seeded Findlay in the semifinals of the NCAA II Great Lakes Region Tournament at Findlay, Ohio. Steven Wright scored 18 points as the Norse rallied to defeat the Oilers in Croy Gymnasium.

NKU trailed 32-29 at halftime despite shooting 54.5 percent from the field, but the Norse started quickly to begin the second half. Billy Finnell began the rally with a basket, and Vincent Humphrey followed with a 3-pointer to give NKU a 34-32 lead.

Wright took over minutes later, scoring seven consecutive points to give NKU a 43-36 advantage. Wright started his personal assault with a long-range 3-pointer and capped it with a driving layup that was assisted by Finnell. Findlay then demonstrated why it had not lost to a non-conference opponent at home since 1997. The Oilers used an 11-0 run to take a 47-43 lead on Frank Phillips’ basket with 10:41 remaining, and the crowd suddenly became a factor.

A 3-pointer by Dorian Bass gave Findlay a 54-50 lead with just 3:56 left on the clock, and it appeared NKU was about to see its season end. Wright brought NKU within a point (56-55) by burying a long 3-pointer with 2:33 remaining. David McFarland then stole the ball from Phillips in the lane and found Wright sprinting to the other end of the court.

Wright soared in for a vicious two-handed dunk to give NKU a 57-56 lead with 1:59 remaining, and the crowd suddenly became eerily silent. Bass attempted to win the game with a 3-pointer out front, but the shot missed and was rebounded by Humphrey. He was fouled with 0.3 seconds left and made both free throws to seal the win and end Findlay’s dominance in Croy Gymnasium.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: NKU ranks No. 1 nationally in the latest NCAA Division II statistics in fewest turnovers with 10 per game. Norse junior guard David McFarland continues to lead the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at nearly 6-to-1.

EARLY EXIT: NKU won the GLVC East Division title and earned a No. 1 seed in the GLVC Tournament, but the Norse dropped an 80-76 decision to Lewis in the first round on March 4 in Regents Hall. NKU had beaten Lewis twice in the regular season.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: On Feb. 21 in Owensboro, Ky., NKU emerged with a 78-63 win over Kentucky Wesleyan in a battle for first place in the GLVC East. Harrison Morton scored 22 points to lead NKU.
Billy Finnell added 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting from the field for NKU, which has beaten Kentucky Wesleyan eight consecutive times. The junior guard from Purcell Marian High School also dished out four assists and made all four of his free-throw attempts.

The NKU defense limited Jeff Fahnbulleh to seven points. Fahnbulleh entered the contest averaging 18.6 points per game. The Norse also held Rodney Edgerson (18.4 ppg) to nine points. T.J. Smith netted 26 points to lead Kentucky Wesleyan. Dennis Gagai scored 10 points for NKU, and Anthony Teague finished with nine points.

Earlier in the season, NKU posted a 69-62 win over Kentucky Wesleyan in Regents Hall. Norse head coach Dave Bezold is now 8-0 all-time against the Panthers.