Nov. 20, 2001

NKU HOSTS TMC WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Norse (2-0) play local rival at 7:45 p.m. in Regents Hall

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will play host to Thomas More College at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday night in Regents Hall. NKU is 2-0 after capturing the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic title over the weekend. NKU posted a 106-85 win over Central State University in the championship game Saturday night. Bobby St-Preux scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Norse. St-Preux made 8 of 11 shots from the field and earned tournament most valuable player honors. He scored 10 points in the first half as the Norse built a 43-37 lead. After Central State opened the second half with a pair of three-pointers to tie the score at 43, Craig Sanders scored six of the next eight points for NKU to give the Norse a 51-46 lead. NKU shot 76.7 percent from the field in the second half. Sanders, who leads NKU in scoring at 19.5 points per game, finished with 20 points and also earned all-tournament honors. NKU’s Carl Mitchell added 17 points, two blocked shots and four steals and was named the tournament's best defensive player. Brenden Stowers (17 points) and Mike Kelsey (12 points) also scored in double figures for NKU, which won the tournament for the 12th time in 20 years. The Norse won the rebounding battle by a 42-24 margin and made 68.5 percent of their shots from the field. HIGHLIGHT SHOW: NKU’s Bobby St-Preux made the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic his own personal highlight reel last weekend, recording five monster dunks in the two games. St-Preux averages 16 points and 6.5 rebounds after two games, and he is shooting 59.1 percent from the field. ALMOST A RECORD: NKU nearly set a school record with its 68.5 percent shooting from the field Saturday. The NKU record for field goal percentage in a game is 68.9 percent, set against Franklin on Jan. 2, 1982. The highest field goal percentage in a half for NKU is 88.1 percent, set against Thomas More on Feb. 11, 1984. THE STREAK CONTINUES FOR SANDERS: NKU’s Craig Sanders has now scored in double figures in 22 consecutive games dating back to last season. The last time Sanders was held below double figures was Jan. 6, 2001, during a 90-75 loss at Southern Indiana. The NKU record for consecutive games in double figures is 39, set by Brady Jackson. ABOUT THOMAS MORE: The Saints are 1-1 after splitting two games in the Defiance College Tournament this past weekend. Thomas More lost to Shawnee State, 84-63, and defeated Indiana-East, 87-61. Thomas More features freshman forward Terry Johnson, who averaged 12.5 points off the bench this weekend. Freshman forward Corey Myers scored 18 points against Indiana-Est and averages 11 points per game. Junior guard Dustin Mulberry also averages 11 ppg after the first two contests this season. LAST YEAR AGAINST THOMAS MORE: On Nov. 25, 2000, NKU defeated Thomas More, 64-57, at Crestview Hills, Ky. The Norse rallied from a seven-point deficit in the first half to record their 15th straight victory in the series against the Saints. Craig Sanders scored 16 points and made a trio of three-point shots to key NKU’s win against Thomas More. LONG STREAK AGAINST TMC: NKU leads the all-time series with Thomas More, 24-5, and the Norse own 15 consecutive victories over the Saints. NKU has not lost to the Saints since the 1980-81 season, when Thomas More defeated the Norse by a 61-52 score in Regents Hall. GLVC OPENER SET FOR SATURDAY: NKU will open Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Saturday (Nov. 24) with a 4:15 p.m. road game at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. The Norse will also travel to Kenosha, Wis., on Monday (Nov. 26) to meet the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at 8:45 p.m.