Feb. 12, 2001

NKU TO MEET INDY THIS TUESDAY

Norse now 20-4 after win over IPFW

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team is 20-4 after defeating Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, 94-73, Saturday afternoon in Regents Hall. The Norse are 11-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and in third place in the GLVC standings. NKU is also ranked No. 15 nationally in the latest Division II poll. The Norse will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., Tuesday night for a 7:45 p.m. game against the University of Indianapolis at Nicoson Hall. Craig Sanders scored 24 points Saturday to lead NKU past IPFW. Craig Conley added 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists for NKU, which has won at least 20 games in six of the last seven seasons. NKU shot 70 percent from the field in the second half to break open a close game. The Norse used a 13-0 run midway through the second half to seal the victory. Adam Norwell scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Norse, and Brenden Stowers added 11 points. NKU has beaten IPFW 14 consecutive times dating back to the 1994-95 season. SCORING MACHINE: NKU junior forward Craig Sanders has scored in double figures in 10 consecutive games (19.6 points per game during that streak), and he leads the Norse in scoring at 16.6 ppg. Sanders, who has scored at least 20 points in nine games this season, averages 17.9 ppg against GLVC opponents. Sanders also leads the team in three-pointers made (74) and three-point attempts (174). He is shooting 42.5 percent from three-point range. Last week, Sanders averaged 24 ppg as NKU posted a 1-1 record. INSIDE FORCE: NKU senior center/forward Adam Norwell is shooting 67.9 percent from the field, which ranks No. 1 in the GLVC. Norwell averaged 13.5 ppg and 5.5 rebounds last week. WIEBER HAS IMPRESSIVE GAME: NKU senior center Zach Wieber scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds Saturday in 19 minutes of action. Wieber averages 5.2 ppg and 4.0 rebounds per contest. ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS: The Greyhounds are 12-9 after defeating Saint Joseph's College, 88-75, Saturday night at Nicoson Hall. Indianapolis is 7-8 in the GLVC and tied for fifth place in the GLVC standings. The Greyhounds feature senior guard Andy Foster, who averages a GLVC-leading 22.8 ppg. Foster, who had 27 points in the win over Saint Joseph's on Saturday, has made 78 of 230 three-point attempts this season. Forward Brad Borgman averages 12.4 ppg off the bench for Indianapolis, and guard Rob Kent is scoring 10.8 ppg. Forward Quincy Davidson is scoring 10.5 ppg. THE LAST TIME AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: On Dec. 5, at Highland Heights, Ky., Craig Sanders scored 19 points as NKU defeated Indianapolis, 94-87, in Regents Hall. Todd Clark added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Norse. NKU used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to snap a 70-70 tie and take a 79-70 lead. Clark scored seven points during the spurt, including a three-pointer with 7:39 remaining that gave the Norse a 79-70 advantage. Craig Conley added 15 points and seven assists for NKU, which survived a 15-of-31 three-point shooting performance by Indianapolis. STREAK AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: NKU owns a four-game winning streak against Indianapolis going into Tuesday's game. A year ago, the Norse swept the season series, which included a 65-64 win at Nicoson Hall. NKU TRAVELS TO KENTUCKY WESLEYAN THIS THURSDAY: NKU will travel to Owensboro, Ky., this Thursday night to meet Kentucky Wesleyan College at 8:30 p.m. The Norse will conclude the three-game road trip this Saturday night in Louisville, Ky., with an 8 p.m. game against Bellarmine University in Knights Hall. OWENSBORO JINX: NKU has not beaten Kentucky Wesleyan in the Owensboro Sportscenter since Feb. 11, 1988, when the Norse posted a 93-85 victory over the Panthers. Since then, NKU has dropped 13 consecutive games to KWC - including a 66-62 decision last season in the NCAA Division II Tournament - in the Owensboro Sportscenter. NKU head coach Ken Shields is 0-13 against KWC in the Owensboro Sportscenter. NKU has won twice in the Owensboro Sportscenter in the NCAA Tournament against teams other than Kentucky Wesleyan - victories over Northern Michigan (2000) and Ferris State (1998). THE LAST TIME AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: On Jan. 20, at Highland Heights, Ky., Todd Clark scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds as NKU defeated Kentucky Wesleyan College, 106-86, in Regents Hall. Clark scored 11 points in the first half as NKU built a 51-29 lead. The Norse made 58.6 percent of their shots from the field in the first half and limited Kentucky Wesleyan to 38.5 percent shooting from the field. Craig Sanders scored 17 of his 20 points after halftime, including a trio of three-pointers in the opening four minutes of the second half. NKU built a 77-48 lead midway through the second half and coasted to the win. Brenden Stowers added 16 points, and Brian Lawhon scored 14 points for the Norse. Carl Mitchell added 11 points and two blocked shots.