HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will play host to the College of Mount St. Joseph at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday night in Regents Hall, and the Norse will attempt to give head coach Ken Shields his 300th career victory in that game.
Shields, in his 16th and final season as head coach at NKU, is 299-159 going into Tuesday night’s game. He is looking to become the first men’s basketball coach in Norse history to reach the 300-win plateau.
PREVIOUS MILESTONE WINS FOR SHIELDS: Shields recorded his 250th career victory on Nov. 24, 2001, when the Norse rallied for an 88-73 win over Lewis University at Romeoville, Ill.
On Dec. 18, 1999, Shields picked up his 200th career victory with a 77-47 win over Emporia (Kan.) State University during the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic at Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
His 100th career coaching victory at NKU came on Nov. 17, 1995, when the Norse posted a 100-67 victory over Bethel (Tenn.) College in Regents Hall. Shields recorded his first victory as NKU head coach on Nov. 18, 1988 with a 94-66 win over Judson (Ill.) College in Regents Hall.
CARY LEADS NKU PAST WAYNE STATE: NKU owns a 9-4 record after outlasting Wayne (Mich.) State University, 91-85, in two overtimes on Dec. 22 at Detroit, Mich. It was the Norse’s fourth consecutive victory.
Pat Cary scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead NKU past Wayne (Mich.) State. Cary, a junior center, also added four blocked shots for the Norse.
NKU trailed by four points late in regulation, but baskets by Cary and Mike Kelsey allowed the Norse to force overtime. Kelsey, who finished with 17 points, tied the game at 67-67 with 45 seconds remaining with a layup.
In the second overtime, Sean Rowland hit four consecutive free throws as NKU built an 82-78 lead with 3:35 remaining. The Norse converted 11-of-12 free throws in the second overtime to seal the victory. Kevin Schappell and Kelsey each made two free throws in the closing seconds to ice the win.
NKU shot 61.1 percent from the field in the second half, and the Norse made 28-of-40 free throws for the game. Steve Purdon and Jesse Rupe each scored 15 points for NKU, and Schappell added 10 points.
80 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER: NKU is now 7-0 this season when scoring at least 80 points. The Norse are 2-4 when scoring less than 80 points.
ROWLAND NO. 4 IN ASSISTS: NKU junior point guard Sean Rowland ranks No. 4 in the GLVC in assists per game at 4.77.
CLUXTON-LIKE SHOOTING: NKU freshman Kevin Schappell has made 93.8 percent of his free throws this season. Schappell is 15-of-16 from the line this season.
The all-time NCAA record for free throw shooting is held by former NKU standout Paul Cluxton, who made all 94 of his attempts from the line during the 1996-97 season.
Cluxton also finished his career as the NCAA’s all-time leader in free throw percentage at .935 (272-for-291 in four years).
MR. CONSISTENT: NKU junior guard Mike Kelsey has scored in double figures in 12 of his team's 13 games this season. Kelsey leads NKU in scoring at 16.5 points per game, and he has connected on 37-of-82 three-point attempts.
Kelsey ranks No. 7 in the GLVC in scoring, and he is No. 10 in three-point percentage (.451). Kelsey is also No. 2 in the GLVC in three-pointers made per game at 2.85.
Kelsey has scored 871 career points and ranks No. 29 on the NKU all-time scoring list going into Tuesday’s game.
ABOUT MOUNT ST. JOSEPH: The Lions are members of the NCAA Division III and enter Tuesday’s game with a 6-3 record. Mount St. Joseph is led by sophomore guard Paul Volkerding, who averages 17.6 ppg. Volkerding has also made a team-leading 25 three-point shots this season.
Senior forward Tom Luther is scoring 11.4 ppg and leads the team in rebounding at 7.2 rpg.
This is the first meeting between NKU and Mount St. Joseph in men’s basketball.
UNBEATEN INDIANAPOLIS UP NEXT: NKU will play host to unbeaten University of Indianapolis at 7:45 p.m. this Friday in Regents Hall. The Greyhounds are currently 9-0 and ranked No. 16 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll.
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