Nov. 23, 2001

NKU FACES LEWIS ON SATURDAY

Norse (3-0) take on unbeaten Lewis (2-0) in GLVC opener

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team is unbeaten (3-0) after posting a 95-50 win over Thomas More College this past Wednesday night in Regents Hall. Bobby St-Preux scored 17 points to lead NKU, and Carl Mitchell added 16 points. NKU now leads the all-time series with Thomas More, 25-5, and the Norse own 16 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. 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. SANDERS KEEPS STREAK ALIVE: Craig Sanders scored 13 points against Thomas More and has now scored in double figures in 23 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. RUPE GETS CAREER HIGHS IN POINT & REBOUNDS: Jesse Rupe scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds - both career highs for the 6-foot-10 sophomore - against Thomas More. Rupe made 5 of 10 shots from the field against the Saints. NKU freshman guard Brian Carpenter also recorded a career-high seven points against Thomas More in just five minutes of action Wednesday night. PHENOMENAL SHOOTING: NKU is shooting 56.1 percent from the field as a team and features 10 players who have made at least 50 percent of their shots from the field. Carl Mitchell has made 65.4 percent of his shots from the field, while Brenden Stowers is shooting 64.7 percent from the field. Bobby St-Preux is shooting 63.3 percent, and Craig Sanders is making 51.6 percent from the field. On defense, NKU has limited the opposition to just 39.6 percent shooting from the field. The Norse also own a +8.7 rebound margin. BALANCED ATTACK: NKU features four players - Craig Sanders (17.3 ppg), Bobby St-Preux (16.3 ppg), Carl Mitchell (16.3 ppg) and Brenden Stowers (11.0 ppg) - who average double figures in scoring. Jesse Rupe averages 9.0 ppg, while Mike Kelsey is scoring 7.0 ppg and Darnell Fields averages 6.0 ppg. SHIELDS GOES FOR WIN NO. 250 WITH THE NORSE: Head coach Ken Shields can record win No. 250 with NKU on Saturday if the Norse can defeat Lewis. Shields owns a 249-141 record with the Norse. He also won 460 games as a high school coach prior to taking the NKU job in 1988. ABOUT LEWIS: The Flyers enter Saturday’s game with a 2-0 record after posting a 75-50 win over St. Francis (Ill.) on Tuesday. Junior guard Stan Strong led the Lewis attack with 21 points - all on three-pointers - against St. Francis. Strong leads Lewis in scoring at 12.5 ppg, and he has made 9 of 16 three-point attempts. Sophomore center Austin Real averages 12.0 ppg and 4.0 rebounds per game. Senior forward Phil Taylor averages 11.0 ppg and 4.5 rebounds. THE LAST TIME AGAINST LEWIS: On Feb. 3, 2001, Craig Conley hit six free throws during the overtime period as NKU defeated Lewis, 83-78 in overtime, at the Neil Carey Arena. Conley led the Norse with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Craig Sanders added 13 points as NKU won at the Neil Carey Arena for the first time since the 1996-97 season. NKU built a 14-point lead with eight minutes remaining in regulation, but Lewis forced overtime when Josh Virostko hit a three-pointer in the final seconds. In overtime, Conley made all six of his free throw attempts as NKU recorded the road win.